California Fish and Game 



"CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION" 



Volume 3 SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL, 1917 Number 2 



AN UNFAIR ATTITUDE ON GAME LAWS. 



By Prank B. Hoffman. 



I recently attended a trial held before a justice of the peace in one 

 of our mountain districts, the defendants, three in number, being 

 charged with a violation of the game law. As to the result of the trial 

 m as far as it affected the defendants, I have nothing to sav, but I was 

 forcibly impressed and immeasurably shocked at the utter lack of 

 respect shown by some of those present for the officers of the court 

 and the openly expressed sentiment against the arresting officials The 

 idea seemed to prevail as it does in other small communities, that 

 because of the nature of the case the proceedings were to be something 

 on the order of a vaudeville performance, and at least 50 per cent of 

 those in attendance showed by their attitude that they were there to 

 contribute their share toward the entertainment. I will not dwell upon 

 this case, except to remark that instances of this kind have a demoral- 

 izing influence upon the community in which they occur, for contempt 

 tor and disregard of one law and its representatives, soon leads to 

 contempt for another law and the officers appointed to enforce it 



1 do not attempt a defense of the game warden, for neither he nor 

 his position need defending, but I wish to register a vigorous protest 

 agamst the unfair attitude assumed by a certain element of societv 

 toward these capable representatives of one of the greatest movements 

 ever inaugurated for the benefit of the present and future generations 

 Ihe populace turns out en masse to assist other officers in the capture 

 of wrongdoers, and even the vile desecrator of the sacred hen roost is 

 considered legitimate prey, all citizens, high and low, lending their 

 best effort to aid m his apprehension. The officer who effects his capture 

 is publicly lauded for his zeal and bravery, and where his office is 

 elective, he is unanimously returned to office because of his record as 

 an efficient officer. But because of some strange inconsistency in the 

 human makeup, we place the game warden in a little niche by himself 

 and deny him the whole-hearted support that is the due of every officer 

 regardless of which branch of the law he represents. 



The admirable and conscientious manner in which the majority of 

 these men perform the duties assigned to them, speaks well of their 

 physical and moral courage, for it is a lamentable fact that in some 

 districts the sentiment against them is so hostile that they must possess 

 these qualities to a high degree. 



Even the hardened criminal recognizes the necessity of law and 

 order, although he may look with disfavor upon the laws which affect 

 his particular line of endeavor, and while he will resort to any measure 

 to avoid capture, once he realizes that resistance is useless, he submits ^ a iv -*- 



