FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 37 



introduced species may prove to be more of a detriment than an asset 

 through competition with or predation on existing game fish. The wise 

 course is first to seek other means of producing satisfactory angling and 

 to introduce a new kind of fish only if the facts indicate that it will fit 

 positively into the economy of the water. 



In several instances available evidence has indicated that addition 

 of new species would improve angling and during the biennium the 

 following important introductions were made : 



Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were introduced into several central and 

 northern California reservoirs in order to provide a more suitable forage fish, 

 especially for black bass. During the biennium 100,000 were planted in Clear 

 Lake, Lake County. In 1950 golden shiners were also stocked in Salt Springs 

 Valley Reservoir, Calaveras County ; in 1951 in Shasta Lake, Shasta County ; 

 Coyote Reservoir, Santa Clara County ; East Park Reservoir, Colusa County ; 

 in 1952 in Turlock Reservoir, Stanislaus County. 



Smallmouth black bass (Micropterus dolomieu) were planted in the following 

 waters : North Fork of Feather River, Plumas County ; Antelope Creek, Tehama 

 County ; North Fork of American River, Placer County ; Upper Blue Lake, 

 Lake County ; Arroyo Seco Creek, Monterey County ; Colorado River, Riverside 

 and San Bernardino counties. The purpose of these introductions was to provide 

 a good game species in waters of doubtful ability to produce trout fishing. 



Kokanee red salmon ( ' Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi) were introduced into Lake 

 Almanor, Plumas County, and Eagle Lake, Lassen County, to serve both as a 

 forage and a game species in problem waters. The planting of kokanee in Lake 

 Tahoe, Placer and El Dorado counties, started in 1949 to provide forage for the 

 lake trout (mackinaw), was continued. Beginning in 1951 kokanee were also 

 planted in Shasta Lake, Shasta County, by local sportsmen with the aid of the 

 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Fish and Game to provide 

 forage for the recently introduced Kamloops rainbow trout. 



White crappie (Pomoxis annularis), brought from southern California, were stocked 

 in East Park Reservoir, Colusa County, and Coyote Reservoir, Santa Clara 

 County. It is hoped that they will occupy a niche unfulfilled by the black crappie 

 (Pomoxis nigromaculatus ) . 



WATER USE PROJECTS 



During the last two years the Department of Fish and Game has 

 realized that the problem of water has become of major importance in 

 the management of fish and game in California. The current competition 

 for water by all groups interested in economic development is causing 

 our streams and waterfowl habitat to disappear at a very rapid rate 

 and we know that once water is appropriated for another use there is 

 very little hope that it can ever be regained for fish and game. 



The Department of Fish and Game is handicapped because water for 

 fish and game has been assigned an extremely low priority in comparison 

 with the other legally recognized "beneficial" uses. 



During the last two years an unprecedented number of irrigation and 

 hydroelectric projects has been proposed for practically every stream in 

 California, both by private interests and agencies of the Federal Govern- 

 ment. As these projects are constructed the amount of water available 

 in the streams for recreation and fish and game will be reduced. 



In the past we have been most concerned with utilizing the available 

 waters to the fullest extent and until recently there have always been 

 relatively untouched rivers and lands available to make up for the losses 

 resulting from any one power or irrigation project. Within the last few 



