As gestures go, declaring striped bass a “native species” of California was a real laughter. Fearing someone might develop a case of sanity around a fish that thrives by eating actual native species like salmon, smelt and trout, the outgoing president of California’s Fish & Game Commission acted unilaterally on the stiped bass’s behalf. He made them all freshwater citizens of California. By declaring striped bass a “native species,” Jim Kellogg was trying to give his beloved bass the same standing as the true natives that bass eat.