132 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 
to bring the question before the 1917 legislature. Those opposing the 
measure claimed that it would be unconstitutional. The need for 
greater leeway in giving local protection to fish and game becomes more 
apparent from year to year and further attempts are sure to follow until 
an act which will improve present conditions is obtained. 
A MODEL LAW. 
What sort of a law would meet the needs in California? Before 
answering this question let us look at some of the laws found workable 
in other states. 
Pennsylvania’s law reads as follows: 
“ * * * Phat from and after the passage of this act, the Governor of Penn- 
sylvania shall have authority, through proclamation, to close for a period not exceed- 
ing one season at one time, any county or counties or any section of any county, of 
this commonwealth, to either hunting or fishing. or to close any stream or part of ~ 
streams to fishing, because of excessive drought and consequent danger from forest 
fires, low water, and the presence of contagious or infectious diseases, when such 
action may be necessary to conserve either the health or welfare of our people or our 
natural resources.’’ 
This act provides a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars or 
more than one hundred dollars. (Proclamation issued under Penn- 
sylvania. Act, P. L. 1915, 530, See. 1.) 
Full power to suspend laws is given the State Game Warden of 
Arizona : 
Sec. 14 (a). The State Game Warden shall have power to suspend the open season 
on any kind of game in any designated area where, in his judgment it becomes 
necessary for the protection of any particular kind or species of game threatened 
with extermination. 
The New York law is more complicated : 
“4. Petition for protection. Ten or more citizens of the state may file with the 
commission a petition in writing requesting it to give to any species of fish other 
than migratory food fish of the sea, including fish or game birds or quadrupeds, 
protection or additional protection to that afforded by the provisions of this article. 
Such petition shall state the grounds upon which such protection is considered 
necessary, and shall be signed by the petitioners who shall attach their addresses. 
“9 Notice of hearings. If the commission shall after hearing petitioner entertain 
the petition, it shall hold a public hearing in the locality or county to be affected 
upon the allegations of such petition at such time and place within the locality or 
county affected as the commission may determine within twenty days from the 
filing thereof. At least ten days prior to such hearing notice thereof, stating the 
time and place at which such hearing shall be held, shall be advertised in a news- 
paper to be selected by the commission and published in the counties or county to 
be affected by such additional or other protection or if less than a whole county, 
in or near the locality which shall be affected. Such notice shall contain a brief 
statement of the grounds upon which such application is made, and a copy thereof 
shall be mailed to such petitioner at the address given in such petition at least 
ten days before such hearing. 
“2 Powers to grant protection. If upon such hearing the commission shall 
determine that such species of fish or game, by reason of disease, danger of 
extermination or from any other cause or reason, requires such additional or other 
protection, in any locality or throughout the state, the commission shall have power 
by order to prohibit or regulate, during the open season thereof, the taking of such 
species of fish or game. Such prohib‘tion or regulation may be made general 
throughout the state or confined to a particular part or district thereof and the 
order shall fix the day when the same shall take effect and the commission shall 
sign and enter the order in its minute book.” 
and proper publicity is demanded in the Maine law: 
“The commissioners of inland fisheries and game shall have general supervision 
of the enforcement of the inland fish and game laws. Whenever they shall deem 
it for the best interests of the state after due notice and public hearing in the 
locality to be affected, they may regulate the times and places in which and the 
circumstances under which game and inland fish may be taken for a series of years 
not exceeding four, but they can not authorize the taking of game or inland fish 
at a time in which its capture is prohibited by the laws of the state. They may, 
from time to time, modify or repeal such needful rules and regulations, not contrary 
A public hearing 
