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<br />
<br />C~~;~!i.tJ.l'Y' ~! "'r~_,~~R~~~KA.t~ IU" ~~=-_~:=-~"'~~~c..,,2c~
<br />
<br />:'3~~E'baits for catfish are: chicken guts, shrimp, liver,
<br />",,:carpor mnllet). Some fishermen compound rather -
<br />,~,_,~(ch~e, blood and feathers, ete.) which are highly
<br />'1~:;:;;,:_~:c:.'~.-," ^,' ;" --,~~- - - -'----'~:---:::- .--..-.
<br />.,;,;~e:rmen often utilize small green sunfish and blueg'JIs,
<br />~~~efish is sometimes considered illegal, although the
<br />,~~.1M,~bjee~~on to their use provided that they have been
<br />lega1manner. In fact, the use of such a resident fish is fiir
<br />~-tl~e- of fish brought from other waters. The latter might
<br />lished. in the river and prove deleterious. Goldfish, carp,
<br />, ,~,are also utilized. Of considerable interest is the use of
<br />: ,~~:'!18_ live bait. These are marine gobies (GiUichthys
<br />< ".,.,!l~~~!te.rsJ._w):J.icl1.aJ:~__~llgp.t_~!l..~he__~~ast and sent
<br />> to Dalt dealers along the l'1ver. TIesensJ1nlive a
<br />"" ',::.9f life and will live for some time in fresh water. They
<br />,.Il.:wever... hence their use (to the exclusion of other live.
<br />",;!ffl. promoted.
<br />
<br />;:;.~~#Qtt~ Fishing." "Jugging" does not appear to be
<br />.llt:n?California, although it has been practised for many
<br />'-',,_:oUhe'country and is sometimes used on the Colorado.
<br />.~(rli~is, attached to a .well-cOrked bottle, beer can or
<br />')Pf:float and then thrown out from a boat or from the
<br />~)t(dozen or more "jugB" will be used. They are then
<br />. bobbing indicates that a fish has been caught, where-
<br />eved~ '
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<br />190
<br />
<br />c.il.:iFORNl..A FlEB' AND'GAME
<br />
<br />Quantity of Fi.h Caught
<br />
<br />No accurate figures on the number of fish or pounds of fish remo.~
<br />from t~e river at. any point could be obtained. A. few estimates hut
<br />been gwen by reSIdents, but these are founded on lIttle actual infOI'ln&-
<br />tion and were at great variance. The few catch records secured by UIe
<br />Division of Fish and Game in 1940 from boatmen at Lake Havasu 'Ill:rt
<br />most incomplete. Recognition of any estimates or records here would
<br />serve no purpose. Fishing is generally considered to be excellent.,
<br />however, and the catch per unit of effort, especially during tlli~ "good"
<br />season, must be large.
<br />Whil~ it is difficult to gauge the degree of fishing pres:>ure in a
<br />--comparatl vely 'new fish~rJ:-(and on.Buch..BhortS:~9..l!~Iltanceship with it,
<br />the author does not believe that any of the factors previously mentioneJ--
<br />indicate that it is high. It is true that a few of the residents have DOt
<br />agreed with this conclusion. However, in an area where practicaLlr
<br />no sport fishing has been in progress until recently the addition of eTn
<br />a few fishermen might appear to be extremely high. To one who .
<br />familiar with the large number of anglers in other portions of California
<br />the pressure on the Colorado appears to be light.
<br />
<br />LOCAL FISHING METHODS
<br />
<br />Indian
<br />
<br />No attempt has been made to seek out papers which tell of the use r4.
<br />the native fishes of the lower Colorado by the aborigines. It may be
<br />worthwhile, however, to include a few notes taken from Kroeber (192;5.
<br />pp. 735, 815). In speaking of the Mohave Indians he says: "Fish wen
<br />taken with seines, or driven up shallow sloughs into scoops, kwitka!.
<br />. . ., as large as a canoe, that were quickly lifted up. The fish of tb!:
<br />muddy Colorado are rather soft and unpalatable to the white man, but
<br />the Mohave caught quantities and relished them."
<br />It is of interest to note that the use of the harpoon for tlshiug-
<br />". . . probably known to every group in California whose territor;
<br />contained sufficient bodies of water"-was not known to the C()ll)r.w~
<br />River tribes.
<br />
<br />Modern
<br />
<br />Although the accounts of individual fishes have included sbort statt-
<br />ments as to the fishing methods used in their capture, a more exteu,j~
<br />discussion may be of interest.
<br />
<br />Handline Fishing. This rather primitive method is legal in l)1>th stal~
<br />for taking game fish as long as the line is held in the hand or :,:ll Cat-
<br />fornia) when it is closely attended. A few cases were noted \"here t~
<br />sole equipment consisted of a line, sinkers, and baited hook.
<br />
<br />Stillfishilng. Almost any of the fishes may be taken in this way Oil bit.
<br />and any type of rod can be used. Usually bamboo, willow, or eWU tan>J~
<br />risk poles are used, and are either held in the hand or stuck or propp<"..1
<br />on the blOlk. Several poles may be set up by the same man, The auth'"
<br />has seen as many as 6 in use at one time, and Mr. Leo RossieI' report>
<br />seeing 9 used by the same fisherman.
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