32 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



111 the last two years every stream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin 

 Valleys which is without a barrier to the migration of the adults or a 

 serious hazard to the life of the young salmon has liad runs that crowded 

 the spawning areas. 



The future of this fishery is threatened by a reckless water program 

 which, however, can be turned to the advantage of the salmon without 

 taking water from any of the other benefits such as irrigation, flood 

 control, power development, and salinitj^ control. The water plan for 

 the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley has so far failed to recognize the 

 fact that the flow of water required either for the control of salinity to 



Figure i:i. Commercial hmding-s of salmon in California, 1938-1947. River catches, 



made in the lower reache-s of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers, consist of king- salmon, 



exclusively. The ocean fishery, conducted from the Oregon line south to Monterey Bay, 



takes king salmon principally, hut some silver salmon is also included in the catch 



protect the rich lowlands, or for irrigation use below the elevation of the 

 spawning areas is more than enough to provide adequate water for the 

 salmon if it were properly distributed among the salmon rivers. That 

 the water to control salinity is being taken from one or two rivers only 

 instead of being shared among all of them is a serious flaw in the water 

 plan that must be corrected if the fishery is not to suffer. 



Tlie spawning areas have been limited in size by high dams and the 

 reduced flow in their sti'cams, but they may be enlarged and improved 

 where the rivei-s i-iiii Ihrough rockpiles of dredge tailings by making of 

 them ludural hatdieries in ai'tificiai channels whidi Avould make for a 

 more efficient ns(> of the Mvailahle water. 



I 



