PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 23 



BOSTON, MASS., Dec. 1, 1914. 



Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, State House, Boston, Mass. 



GENTLEMEN : I herewith submit my summarized report for the three 

 years ending Dec. 1, 1914. 



On Nov. 20, 1911, I was appointed special assistant to Chief Deputy 

 W. W. Nixon, and upon his untimely death, Feb. 8, 1912, was promoted to 

 the position of chief deputy. The greater portion of my time during the 

 past three years has been devoted to office work necessary to direct the 

 activities of the deputies, investigations of special complaints of law 

 infraction, superintending the distribution of fish, and handling the large 

 amount of correspondence directly relating to the enforcement of fish and 

 game laws. 



District Deputies. In 1912 the force consisted of 29 paid deputies 

 and 4 special deputies who were hired during the open season. In 1913 

 there were the same number of deputies and 4 special deputies whose 

 terms expired in September. The only change during the year was the 

 transfer of Deputy Charles L. Savery, who returned at the end of the year, 

 from Martha's Vineyard reservation to special work in Plymouth and 

 Barnstable counties, his place being taken by Deputy William Day. In 

 1914 the force consisted of 27 district deputies and 4 special deputies. A 

 new system, which has already demonstrated its value, was inaugurated 

 by the appointment of George W. Piper as deputy at large, to be sent 

 wherever assistance was needed in the enforcement of the law or in the 

 distribution of fish. 



Civil Service. - - The admission of deputies under civil service regula- 

 tion has proved a valued stimulus in the apprehension of violators, both 

 rich and poor, owing to the added protection given to the position of 

 deputy. On July 1, 1914, over one hundred candidates appeared before 

 the Civil Service Commission for examination. Temporary appoint- 

 ments of men certified by the Civil Service Commission were made for the 

 balance of the year as follows: Edward E. Backus, Jr., of Interlaken; 

 William H. Seaman of Fall River; Orrin D. Steele of Byfield. 



Needs of the Force. The need of more district deputies is pressing. It 

 is manifestly impossible in certain districts for the deputy to cover his 

 territory in a thorough manner, and this condition can be met only by an 

 increased number of men and better means of transportation. An in- 

 creased force means more results, not only in arrests but in the more 

 important prevention of violations. The increased number of birds and 

 fish to be distributed each year, the many additional laws on the statute 

 books restricting hunting and fishing, and the increased number of hunters 

 and fishermen, all render a larger force imperative. 



Special Deputies. In addition to the district deputies special wardens 

 are appointed at such times as occasion demands. These men serve as 

 regular deputies, but only for certain months. It had been customary, 

 before the advent of civil service regulations, to consider the force of 

 unpaid deputies as a training school from which were appointed the 



