PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



These laws in many cases are entirely equitable but their 

 existence does show the dominant influence of the rural 

 districts in the state legislature. 



Organization of State Conservation Department: 1 From 

 earliest times the protection of fish and game from wasteful 

 slaughter has been conceded one of the proper functions of 

 the state government but not until comparatively recent 

 years was it recognized that this end could most easily be 

 attained through the establishment of a separate adminis- 

 trative unit especially charged with the conservation of wild 

 life resources. It was a victory not easily won by the con- 

 servationists and even today in the economy program of 

 some states the proposal has been made to abolish these 

 special departments and delegate the duty of enforcing the 

 game laws to the local peace authorities. 2 



Such a change would be decidedly a step backwards. Ex- 

 perience has shown that game laws left to the local peace 

 authorities are notable chiefly for their lack of enforcement. 

 The great number of laws which the local peace officer is 

 charged with enforcing leaves him little time or inclination 

 to interest himself in the enforcement of the game laws. 

 In addition the work is decidedly unpopular with his con- 

 stituents when it relates to themselves. 



A far more important objection, however, is found in the 

 fact that wild-life conservation means far more than merely 

 the enforcement of laws regarding open seasons and bag 

 limits. Modern conservation implies promotion as well as 

 regulation, and both phases of the work require trained 

 personnel if real results are to be obtained. Therefore a 



1 A digest of state fish and game laws prepared for the Office of the 

 California Legislative Council by Mrs. Harriet Buhler has been found 

 most useful in the discussion of the organization of state game and fish 

 departments. (1934.) 



2 State of Washington in 1933. 



