52  FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ENGINEERING 



By J. SpenceRj Chief 



The Bureau of Engineering was formerly known as the Bureau of 

 Hydraulics. The change in name was made as the new title was con- 

 sidered to be more informative to the general public and also the 

 work as now set up is more inclusive than that as designated by the 

 word "Hydraulic." 



The general engineering work carried on for the other bureaus 

 of the commission consists of surveys, engineering studies, mapping, 

 and other work as desired along general engineering lines. In the 

 early part of the biennium a considerable amount of work was done 

 for the Fish Conservation Bureau consisting of surveys for alterations 

 at hatcheries, new work, such as the proposed Lytic Creek Hatchery 

 (though later abandoned) a hatchery in Mono County, and other 

 places. Where it is expected that construction of any importance Avill 

 be carried on the basic plans and ideas of the commission personnel 

 are set out in general for final preparation by the Board of Public 

 Works, Division of Architecture. Extensive studies were carried on 

 as to the water uses by a hatchery, the matter was before a Supreme 

 Court and the decision in the main upheld the viewpoint of the com- 

 mission. 



A number of surveys were made for other bureaus but not to the 

 extent as above noted though present indications are that engineering 

 Avork will be materially added to during the coming biennium. 



The activities of the bureau as related to stream improvements 

 were not neglected and major work was done by 14 owners of dams 

 by constructing new fishways, replacing ones taken out by storms, 

 or improving the ones in place. These fishways are located in 12 

 different counties in the State. Every effort is made to effect installa- 

 tions or improvements of fishwaj^s without recourse to law, but it 

 was necessary to cite one owner to the court, and by agreement the 

 owner plead guilty, was fined $250, all of which was suspended con- 

 tingent upon the proper fishway installation within a specified time. 



It is of interest to note that investigations carried on in connec- 

 tion with proposed developments show that the fishways previously 

 installed pass upward moving fish satisfactorily. 



The work of replacing inefficient fish screens as authorized under 

 a broad policy of this commission has continued, the work in general 

 having been confined to Siskiyou, Tehama, and Lassen counties. The 

 installations made are of concrete and steel and substantial. The 

 effort has been made to work in localities where there were many 

 diversions from the natural water courses, thus avoiding as much 

 travel as possible, and tending toward economic construction. It 

 should be remembered that Siskiyou County has considerable num- 

 bers of sea-run fish and it was thought that more good would result 



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