GAME LAW ENFORCEMENT 217 



the game laws against local offenders. The close contact 

 between the justice and his neighbors in the same rural com- 

 munities makes him very loath to deal with them as harshly 

 as the law provides. On the other hand, there is little com- 

 plaint from state conservation departments when persons 

 outside the community are involved. 



A special effort should be made by the state game and 

 fish officials to keep in contact with the justices-of-the-peace 

 through the state, both by means of correspondence and 

 through personal visits so as to counteract this local pres- 

 sure. If publicity were to be given in the conservation 

 magazines within the state to decisions of the local courts it 

 would have a wholesome effect on their decisions. 



Where the state conservation department is dependent for 

 part of its revenue upon the income from fines levied in 

 justice courts, complete records should be kept of each case, 

 the amount of fine levied, and the amount collected. Jus- 

 tices oftimes allow the fine to be paid in installments, and in 

 such cases care should be taken that the full amount is even- 

 tually paid. 



One of the mid- western conservation departments suc- 

 ceeded in nearly doubling the revenue it received from fines 

 levied in the justice courts by inaugurating a follow-up sys- 

 tem to insure that fines levied were paid. A system of this 

 kind not only increases the revenue of the department but 

 impresses the justices that the department is very much 

 interested in the manner in which they dispose of game and 

 fish cases. 



Speedy Trial and Adequate Bail: It is the custom in most 

 of the states as in the case of the federal government to 

 hold as evidence the guns or traps of a person taken in the 

 act of violating the laws. These serve also as excellent bail 

 to insure the appearance of the defendant at the trial. The 



