32 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



COOPERATION BY OUR REGULAR DEPUTIES AND VOLUNTEERS 



The season of 1930-31, due to the extreme drouth, would have 

 been disastrous to fish life all over California, had it not been for the 

 cheerful and helpful cooperation of our Chief of Patrol and regular 

 deputies, who, in addition to their patrol duties furnished information 

 to this bureau of the water conditions in their districts. They were 

 furnished equipment and personally rescued many thousands of fish 

 as the record will show, which under the rushed condition of the 

 bureau it would have been impossible to save. A number of sports- 

 men also contributed valuable assistance gratis. 



Green Sunfish— Perch 11,191 



Bluegill Sunfish 16,269 



Calico Bass— Crappie 25,271 



Catfish 191,516 



Black Bass 10,815 



Trout 327,887 



Salmon Fry 435,000 



Total 1,017,949 



RECAPITULATION 



Period 1930-31 8,212,415 



Period 1931-32 5,522,150 



Deputies and volunteers 1,017,949 



Total for biennium 14,752,514 



This is an increase of 7,782,187 over previous biennium. 



ERADICATION OF ROUGH NONGAME FISH FOR 1931-32 



Pike, suckers, hardheads, carp and other nongame fish are a menace 

 to edible and game fish life. They occupy water space ; they live upon 

 and thrive upon the roots and seeds of aquatic plant life so necessary 

 for the food and protection of young game fish. They eat the spawn 

 or eggs of game fish. 



It is true that young of the rough fish furnish a food supply to 

 predatory game and food fish that would consume their own, were it 

 not for the young non-game fish. However, the abundance of rough 

 fish far exceeds the food needs of the game species. It is not our 

 intention to eradicate them entirely, even though this were possible. 

 Enough are allowed to remain to furnish a food supply for the preda- 

 tory species of game fish. 



The rough fish are given to the landowners where much of our 

 rescue work is done. The farmers use them for chicken feed and fer- 

 tilizer. In 1931-32, approximately 9568 pounds were destroyed. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



Fish rescue work brings this bureau in direct contact with the 

 angler and from an examination of many of the ovaries of the basses 

 and other fish caught by them and from our own observation of the 

 spawning period, I am sure the present open season of from May first 

 is at least from two weeks to a month too early. I have a collection of 

 the ovaries of a number of black bass and other fish of the kind taken 

 from local waters during the past four years which had not spawned 



