50 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



BUREAU OF FISH CONSERVATION 



An understanding of the present program of the bureau is basic for 

 a consideration of expansion or change in operations. A short time 

 before the war a plan for future operation was approved by the com- 

 mission and the accomplishments thereunder have been reported upon 

 informally from time to time and at regular intervals in the biennial 

 reports. There have naturally been some modifications and the war 

 necessitated deferment of many activities that had been planned. 



A long-term program with definite objectives is particularly desir- 

 able for the conservation work of public agencies because of the continued 

 demand by interested individuals and groups for innumerable short- 

 term activities which are never coordinated and in fact, are usually 

 abandoned by the proponents for new fads or fancies before the original 

 objectives are attained. Regardless of the individual merits of the proj- 

 ects, little worthwhile can be accomplished if the division is forced to 

 abandon them before completion to undertake some new ventures. The 

 waste of time, effort and money resulting from such unplanned activity 

 can be largely, but not completely, avoided by setting up a sound long- 

 term program and sticking to it except for minor modifications. Even 

 though the plan may be in part defective, the results of long-term 

 coordinated work are bound to be more profitable than hit or miss work, 

 even on a large scale. 



The present program of this bureau has three broad objectives, and 

 under each, a number of related fields of activity. Thej^ can be most 

 concisely presented in outline form. 



1. Protection and improvement of euAdronment and habitat for 

 fishes. In other words, to provide satisfactory living conditions for 

 fishes. The main lines of activity in this field are : 



a. Protection of existing fishing waters from the adverse effects of 

 the utilization of water for other purposes. It is hardly necessary 

 to point out that the use of water for domestic use, irrigation, 

 power and industrial purposes is continuing to increase. One 

 thousand one hundred twenty-six applications for new diver- 

 sions were filed during the biennium. There are over 600 dams 

 now existing in the State, and many more are planned or under 

 consti-uction. In order to make proper recommendations for the 

 protection of fish it is necessary to study each of these projects 

 in detail and frequently the problems are so complex that the 

 studies extend over a considerable period of time. It has been 

 found that many adjustments in construction or operation are 

 possible which make these projects less damaging to fish life, and 

 where negotiation fails to bring satisfactory adjustment, recourse 

 is had to the provisions of law for the release of water and the 

 construction of fish ladders and screens. Screening of diversions 

 will only be possible on a large scale after the revision of the 

 present screen law. 



