Los Banos Rotary Club History
Fish And Game Chief Says Ocean Is Recreation Hope

Speaking to members of the Rotary Club at their luncheon meeting Tuesday, Ralph Classic, Chief of the Fresno division of the California's thousand miles of ocean shoreline is becoming more and more important as a source of recreation as the state's population continues to swell.

He also related the increased efforts being made by the state, through the Fish and Game, to provide better recreational opportunities in inland areas, by the raising of pheasants, improved control of deer country; acquisition and development of resting and shooting grounds for migratory wildlife; and also the enlarged program of fish propagation and planting.

However, he said, the consistant development of new lands for agriculture, the increasing use of water for agriculture, big drainage and development projects that are eliminating the once vast marsh and wilderness areas has reduced the possible scope of inland recreational facilities to such an extent that the ocean remains as the last untouched recreational possibility.

As to an example of the tremendous amount of hunting that is done in this state Classic said the Fish and game anticipates no less than 18,000 hunters to check in at one Kern County station, which is being opened this season after being closed for several years. All other areas, he said, will report more hunters this season than at any previous time in history.

Commenting briefly on some of the new fish and game laws that became effective September 9, he said the new regulation regarding frog hunting has caused the greatest furor. "Technically," he said, "in the eyes of the law the frog became a fish on September 9, and is subject to the same regulations: no frog hunting after a half hour after sunset, and can be legally taken only by a hook or lure voluntarily taken by the froggie in his mouth."

However, Classic said the law, which was passed primarily to bring it under a classification requiring an angling license, was not actually intended to curtail gigging, even at night, and he predicted the situation will be adequately remedied by the state legislature at the January session. He implied, but did not actually state, that the wardens would not be particularly concerned with frog spears, or with night hunting, at least until the legislature has had an opportunity to enact further legislation.

One other new law which has received but little publicity is a regulation requiring a permit for the taking of minnows to be used as live bait. Such permits may be secured from the game warden.

The speaker was accompanied by the local game warden, Carl Tegan, and was introduced by program chairman, Fred Rosa.

Club president Kenneth Anderson approved a suggestion made by Judge D. Oliver Germino that the Rotary sponsor a project for installation of an electrically-cooled, conveniently placed drinking fountain somewhere in the park for the convenience of the public who use the park facilities. The installation will be made within the next several weeks.

September 18, 1953

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