34 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF HYDRAULICS 



By J. Spencer, Chief 



The bureau's activities have been carried on in the biennium 

 practically the same as shown in the preceding reports. Good prog- 

 ress has been made along a number of lines though some difficult 

 problems have been encountered. As the general public becomes better 

 acquainted with the necessity of the bureau's work, these difficulties 

 will be somewhat minimized and the conservation of fish and water- 

 borne life will be greatly furthered. The support of the various con- 

 servation organizations and of the State Chamber of Commerce through 

 its different committees with the consequent effect on the public mind 

 is of material aid. 



No increase in the number of employees has occurred. Funds 

 from the bureau budget were diverted to the Sanitary Bureau of the 

 State Department of Public Health for sewage research and investi- 

 gation work. This fund has maintained one investigator. Pollution 

 problems requiring scientific analysis are carried on by the George 

 William Hooper Foundation for Medical Research, which is supported 

 in part by funds from the Division of Fish and Game. The bureau 

 has only three employees, one of whom is stationed in southern Cali- 

 fornia and engaged in prevention of oil pollution. The work is of 

 such a nature that practically all matters within the scope of the bureau 

 require personal inspections, there having been about 2000 of these 

 in the past biennium. The fine support and cooperation received 

 from the patrol forces is of great assistance. 



While the regular work of the bureau is concerned with the pre- 

 vention of the pollution of public waters and the installation and 

 maintenance of fishways and fish screens, at times work of a special 

 nature is assigned to the bureau. One of these matters was the pro- 

 tection of deer on an extensive hydroelectric project in Amador County. 

 This project in part consists of a concrete flume ,14 feet wide and 7 

 feet high, placed on a benched hillside, the slopes of which are generally 

 steep. When this flume was constructed there were included at two 

 places, a number of miles apart, inclined passageways leading from 

 the bottom to the top, the thought being that with six feet of water 

 in the flume and the fairly high velocity of the water that deer would 

 be swept downstream to these passageways where they could then pass 

 out of the flume. 



This plan has worked fairly well when the water was at the 

 maximum height but much of the time the depth of the water has been 

 considerably less with the result that the deer that got in the flume, fought 

 the current, their feet and legs becoming worn and torn by rubbing 

 on the bottom of the flume, or they drowned. Careful inspection of 

 the route of the flume showed places where deer congregated or had 

 been in the habit of crossing the line of the conduit and all such places 

 were fenced on the upper bank and substantial bridges constructed 

 across the flume. Fencing was also done on the lower side. The 

 fence is of No. 9 wire with 6-inch stay and carried on 6" x 6" posts spaced 



