TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 



17 



MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL. 



Bounties have been paid on 256 

 mountain lions, a number slightly 

 above the average for past bien- 

 niums. A number of counties now 

 offer bounties on lions, in addition 

 to the state bounty, and thus offer 

 an inducement to men who own 

 predatory animal dogs. In one in- 

 stance the combined state and county 

 bounty attracted a professional lion 

 hunter to this state from Arizona, 

 with a resultant increased toll being 

 taken in Santa Barbara County. 

 State Mountain Lion Hunter Bruce 

 maintained his general average of 

 nearly three lions per month, and 

 was successful in securing several 

 litters of kittens. The present sys- 

 tem of lion control seems to be 

 efficacious and if continued should 

 largely eliminate danger to deer 

 and to domestic stock. 



Fig. 3. A deputy of the Fish and 

 Game Commission examining game 

 bag of a foreigner at the Sausalito 

 Ferry. 



FISH AND GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS. 



Increased interest in fish and game is evidenced by the growing num- 

 ber of fish and game protective associations that are being formed. IMost 

 eastern states have active associations in every county and an active 

 centralized state organization, but until recently few such organizations 

 have existed in California. Perhaps it is the growing need for careful 

 protection of wild life resources that is causing the banding together of 

 sportsmen in the various communities. Certainly it is too often the ca.se 

 that measures for protection are taken when game has practically dis- 

 appeared. 



Already these associations, now nearly twenty in number, have been 

 helpful in shouldering responsibility for the planting of hsh and in 

 influence lent to law enforcement. Provided these associations actively 

 espouse the cause of game protection rather than the cause of inutiial 

 protection for members in the securing of game as some have been known 

 to do, there is a wide field of service open to them. First and fort^most 

 is the opportunity to develop the proper attitude on fish and game con- 

 servation in the various communities. 



2—22631 



