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Although all parts of San
Mateo County are within about forty miles of San Francisco and
within a few hours by auto, there are few sections of the state that
are better supplied with game and fish. It is true that a few years
ago there was much better hunting, but everything considered, the
coast region in San Mateo County is not to be despised. In years
past the grizzly bear was common throughout the peninsula. It is
said that these bears were even larger than the famous Kadiak Island
grizzlies, said to be the largest in the world. Stories told of the
raids made by them on the ranches in the early days are wonderfully
interesting. It is probable that the last grizzly was killed in the
early seventies, although it is reported that a black bear was
killed in the central part of the county about 1892.
Enos Ralston of San Gregorio, whose parents settled on
the Corte Madera Creek in the latter part of the fifties, tells of a
grizzly bear that he and his small brothers and sisters surprised
while they were gathering berries. The bear was on one side of a big
red log and the children on the other. When they climbed on the log
they saw the bear, it is a question as to whether the children or
the bear was more frightened. Anyway, the bear went one way and the
children the other.
A bear story with a more serious ending is said to have
happened just across the south line of the county. Henry Waddell,
who was then living in a cabin near the mouth of the stream that now
bears the name of Waddell Creek went out one morning after deer. He
was accompanied by a small dog. The dog took the trail, of some
animal up through a steep side canyon. Near the head of the canyon
the dog disappeared behind a turn and almost immediately a big bear
came down the canyon at full speed. It was impossible for Waddell to
get out of the way and before he knew it he had received a blow from
the bear's paw over the head that scalped him, while his thigh was
crushed by the bear's jaws. Waddell was so badly injured that he
died within a few days.
As long as the present conditions exist in San Mateo
County there will be an opportunity for the man who cares for deer
hunting to secure venison. With 36,000 odd acres of Spring Valley
land upon which there is practically no hunting, and the California
redwood park just across the south line where no hunting at all is
allowed. the deer can breed undisturbed. When this protected area
becomes crowded, the overflow spreads out in the adjoining parts of
the county where hunting is allowed. On account of the protection,
it has been possible during the past several years to kill an
average of 150 (leer a year. Deer find San Mateo hills particularly
to their liking: the feed is good and the cover is so thick that
hunters are at considerable odds unless they are assisted by well
trained (logs. Deer have been killed within a short distance of both
Redwood City and San Mateo. On a drive through the Spring Valley
lands, it is not unusual to see as many as a dozen or more.
Valley quail are the prize game bird of the county.
Quail shooting is excellent in many parts of the county and promises
to be better on account of the shortening of the season and the
reduction of the bag limit at the last session of the legislature.
With continual watchfullness necessary, the quail have become more
crafty, so that it is difficult to secure a limit, although there
may be an abundance of birds in the vicinity. As soon as a few shots
are fired the gun-wise birds take to the high brush where it is
impossible to find them. Many years ago the mountain quail were
found in fair numbers in the higher elevations; but it is doubtful
if one could be found in any part of the county today.
San Mateo has long been famous for its excellent rabbit
shooting. Both the cottontail and brush rabbits are found in the
county, but the brush rabbit far outnumbers the cottontail. The
brush covered hills on the coastside afford excellent cover. If
given reasonable protection, the rabbits will long afford a source
of enjoyment to the red-blooded man who likes to get out with gun
and dog. During the first few days of the open season, hundreds of
rabbit hunters make their way to the various parts of the county.
Most of them return with goodly bags. San Mateo was one of the
first, if not the first, to give rabbits the protection of a closed
season. This law was found to be so satisfactory, that sometime
later a state law was passed giving state-wide protection during
part of the year.
The grey tree squirrel is no longer considered game in
San Mateo County. They are worth more alive from the aesthetic point
of view to satisfy the outer man, than they are dead to satisfy the
inner man. Squirrels are found more or less commonly throughout the
wooded parts of the county. In parts they are very common, even
within the incorporated limits of the cities along the bay shore.
Marsh shooting in San Mateo County has not improved
during recent years. Formerly the salt ponds on the bay shore
afforded excellent duck shooting but in recent years clucks have
become noticeably scarce. There is still in the fall of the year an
excellent flight of ducks in the morning and evening, between the
Spring Valley lakes and the bay, but shooting is limited to a few
moments at that time and it is difficult to get more than a few
birds. Better bags of ducks are secured by those hunters skilled in
the use of a skulling oar, but this sort of hunting is rather hard
work for the average hunter and is not commonly resorted to.
Rail shooting has been one of the sports of the county,
but so much land has been reclaimed during the past few years that
rail have been greatly reduced and it has become necessary to put a
closed season on them. It is probable, however, that in a few years
they will have increased to such an extent that a short open season
can be declared. The clapper rail is one of the best of table birds
and is preferred by many to any other variety of game.
Of all the attractions of San Mateo County perhaps
trout. fishing is not to be surpassed. There are miles and miles of
excellent trout streams easily accessible. Many of these are classic
with the angling fraternity; and it is only necessary to mention the
Purissima, San Gregorio, Pescadero, Butano, or any of the other well
known streams , to start the ball a rolling, or, more properly, the
reel a spinning. Wonderful stories are told about the excellent
creels of fish that have been taken.
The streams of San Mateo have been well attended to by
the State Fish and Game Commission and hundreds of lively
fingerlings have been planted during the past years. The following
is a record of the plantings that have been made since 1912.
In 1912, there were planted 150,000 steelhead trout,
6000 eastern brook and 114,000 rainbow; in 1913, 117,000 steelhead
and 48,000 rainbow; in 1914, 274,000 steelhead, 20,000 rainbow and
400 eastern brook ; and in 1915, 400.000 steelhead and 80,000
rainbow trout-a total of 1,213,000 fish.
Added to this vast number, in normal years there is a
heavy run of trout from the ocean that spawn naturally, so that even
though the streams are heavily fished there should be an abundance
of fish for everyone.
To many, the good things that are produced on the land
at San Mateo are nothing when compared with those found in the
waters of the Pacific Ocean. Every low tide brings scores of
residents and visitors from San Francisco to the rocky reefs where
the abalone grow; and those who have had the pleasure of eating
abalone know what satisfaction it brings to gather a number of these
excellent shell fish.
During certain times of the year when the smelt are
spawning, they run close to shore and at such times are taken by the
sack-full. Fresh smelt are deemed superior to trout by many and
certainly are excellent. Salt water eel are found abundantly along
the rocky shore.
Great big crabs that are not surpassed in flavor by any
crab in the world are taken in enormous quantities along the shore.
Many other sea delicacies might be mentioned, for they
are common in San Mateo, but let us offer you the invitation to come
and be shown. San Mateo invites you.
In addition to the planting of thousands of fish in the
county, the Fish and Game Commission has maintained a constant
patrol to see that the game and fish laws are not violated. During
the past four years there has been paid out for patrol service
$10596. There have been made 231 arrests, and a total of $4120.
imposed in fines. The total amount collected for hunting and angling
licenses has amounted to approximately $5955. It will be seen that
when the cost of fish planting and the cost of patrol service are
considered, that the expenditures by the Commission have been
largely in excess of the money derived from the county. This is
possible on account of the fact that the money collected for the
licenses in San Francisco and other large cities can be used in the
fields and streams where the hunters from San Francisco find their
sport.
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