4Lommoniuealt!) of J 



To His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Council. 



The Commissioners on Fisheries and Game respectfully sub- 

 mit their forty-seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth annual 

 reports. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATION. 



Attention is again called to the peculiarly favorable oppor- 

 tunities for intensive utilization of latent food-producing re- 

 sources. It is reasonable to state that few departments of 

 government reach so directly and intimately the vital interests 

 of all the people as does the department of fisheries and game, 

 not alone as stimulating recreative and health-producing sports, 

 but even more by assisting in the annual production of impor- 

 tant food. Fresh-water fish, birds and game are peculiarly 

 responsive to correct methods of artificial propagation. Simi- 

 larly, methods for increasing production must be applied to the 

 salt-water fisheries and other natural resources of the Common- 

 wealth. 



With these factors constantly in rnind your commissioners 

 seek to administer the department, to the end that a maximum 

 efficiency may be reached at a minimum cost, so far as en- 

 lightened public opinion and available resources permit. Each 

 year the requirements for fish and game protection and propa- 

 gation are becoming more complicated as a result of the in- 

 creasing diversity of public interests, as reflected by new laws 

 and demands for greater production. A definitely planned 

 system for all branches of the department seeks to meet and 

 even to anticipate these growing demands. Some of the chief 

 points in the work of the commission during the past three 

 years, and suggestions for future development, are presented in 

 this report. 



