GAME AND FISH RESORTS. 1 5 



Ban, .Francisco County — 



Lake Merced^ five miles from San Francisco, is stocked with salmon and trout. 

 Owned by a private club, with fine accommodations for members and their 

 guests. A pleasant drive from the city. There are no other fish in the lake but 

 bullheads and stickle backs, with perhaps a few other sorts of small fish. There 

 is on the shore of the lake a hotel— the Ocean View House — and at the head of 

 the lake a small tavern, kept by Haskins, where bdatscan be obtained. Near 

 Jie ocean, and but a short distance from the lake^ is the Ocean Side House, four 

 miles from the famous Seal Rocks and Cliff House, and seven miles from the city. 



San Francisco. There are quail, black-tail deer, jack snipe, rabbits and hares 

 all about San Francisco. The favorite grounds of sportsmen are the great valleys 

 of the San Joaquin and Sacramento. The State can produce no better ducking- 

 ground than the San Joaquin Valley, and geese are nowhere more abundant. 

 Dnipe and the smaller aquatic fowl are also plentiful. The Sacramento, almost 

 equally accessible, is unsurpassed. The sportsman takingthe four o'clock steam- 

 boat, finds himself at supper time passing Kio Vista. He may debark anywhere 

 along here on the Solano shore, unpack his things and begin shooting on excellent 

 grounds for water fowl. CoUinsville and Bridgeport lie will find convenient 

 stopping places, with boats and guides at a moderate hire. Going further he 

 will find unsurpassed shooting on the islands in the Sacramento. Or, if another 

 route is preferred, let him take the cars to the San Joaquin Bridge — if he can 

 school himself to pass the great Livermore snipe grounds. He will there find 

 boats at his service, and scow or flat boat hotels, maintained by experienced rivei 

 gunners, who will feast him with the best of sportsman's cheer, and take him to 

 Che cream of the shooting grounds. The Santa Clara Valley also swarms with 

 wild fowl, and there are excellent sporting fields near Salinas. There is also an 

 abundance of the birds on the San Mateo marshes, which may be reached in an 

 hour from this city by car or rail. The hills back of Berkeley, in or about Wild 

 Cat Creek, afford many rabbits and quail. Deer are frequently met. 



There are other resorts not as good which sometimes afford those who must be 

 contented with a few hours' shooting, a little fun, such as Sancilito, around the 

 Cliff House, Alms House, Seven-mile House, or San Bruno road ; an occasional 

 hare may be shot in such places, and sometimes some jack snipe at San Bruno. 



The Alameda Marsh esjffive good duck shooting from blindsj with decoys, but 

 the birds are very wild. The ducks most abundant there are widgeon, spoonbill, 

 and teal, some quail, curlew and jack snipe may occasionally be found. The 

 fishing in the bay is for salmon, grilse and tom cod. The Oakland long wharf, 

 opposite the city, is the favorite place for anglers. There are many resorts within 

 a short distance of the city, easily accessible by the different railroad lines. The 

 Southern Pacific Railroad will take the anglers to Lakes Pilercitos and San An- 

 dreas, controlled by the Sportsman's Club of California. San Bruno is the station, 

 and the fare is fifty cents. A vehicle will convey persons to the fishing grounds. 

 To fish here it is necessary first to become a member of the Sportsman's Club 

 (initiation fee, $20 ; dues, J3 per quarter). There are club houses at both of these 

 lakes. All other information may be obtained from Mr. William Stuart, the 

 Secretary, at No. 113 Leidesdorff'^ street. Pilercitos. one of the Spring Valley 

 Water Company's reservoirs, is now well filled with fair-sized trout, and San 

 Andreas, chiefly with silver salmon of generally moderate size. 



The Pilercitos trout are very gamey : the meat is of a rich, red color, and they 

 are in every respect an excellent table fish. The angler who is not a member of 

 the Sportsman's Club may go on to San Mateo (21 miles, ninety cents). Near the 

 town he will strike the San Mateo Creek, in which is good trout fishing. Should he 

 wish to extend his journey to the coast he may proceed by stage from San Mateo 

 to Spanishtown, where will be found two or three pretty good trout streams, and 

 beyond there down the shores of the ocean are Purissima, San Gregorio, Lobetis. 

 Pescadero, Butano, Scott, and other creeks, in each of which tolerably good and 

 sometimes excellent sport may be had, although the fish are mostly not of much 

 size. Between San Mateo and Santa Clara there are several small streams, which 

 can be reached on a Saturday, and where fishing may be enjoyed from that day to 

 Monday morning. The names of these creeks are the Adobe, San Francisquita, 

 Stevens, and Congress Hall. From Santa Clara, stages connect for Saratoga in 

 Santa Cruz County, from which point may be reached the head-waters of the San 

 Lorenzo, once a capital trout stream, and affording fair sport now. There is good 

 fishing in the Guadaloupe, Coyote, and Los Gatos Creek, all of which may be 

 reached via Santa Clara. , ^ l- i. l j ■ 



On the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, good fishing may be had in 



