TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 103 



The Fish and Game Commission has been urged by many good sports- 

 men to have the penalty for violating the various laws increased. They 

 believe that there is particular necessity for increasing the penalty for 

 killing a doe even so far as to make it a felony. At the present time the 

 range of fines that may be imposed for doe killing is from $50 to $500 

 and in addition a jail sentence of 150 days may be imposed. For other 

 violations of the fish and game laws a fine of $25 lo $500 may be imposed 

 and the same jail sentence. 



Unfortunately many justices of the peace do not regard violations of 

 the game law as seriously as do sportsmen and they are inclined to con- 

 sider the defendant rather than the crime and the minimum fine is 

 most frequently imposed and sometimes they deem this even too severe 

 and either suspend sentence or put the violator under probation. If the 

 minimum fines were increased there would be more suspended sentences 

 and more probations. If the sportsmen who are interested in seeing the 

 laws enforced would take it upon themselves to back up the justices of 

 the peace who impose severe sentences and insist that the milder jus- 

 tice impose fines upon wilful and deliberate violators that are somewhere 

 nearer the maximum, they will do more to stop the illegal killing of 

 game than could be done in any other way. 



WATERFOWL. 



The 1919-1920 duck season was not good anywhere in the San Fran- 

 cisco District. In the San Joaquin Valley there was very little loafing 

 water and the birds continued in their migration. At the opening of 

 the season there were a good number of birds and many limits were 

 taken. On one ground near Gustine, out of 400 hunters, 125 secured full 

 limits and most of the others secured parts of limits. Shooting was bet- 

 ter on the opening day than at any other time during the season. In the 

 Suisun marsh shooting was also poor during most of the season. 



The 1921-1922 season opened much better. On the same ground 

 mentioned above, Gustiue, there were twice the number of birds killed 

 as were killed previous bj' approximately the same number of hunters. 

 Shooting continued to be good during the remainder of the season but 

 was not up to normal. 



During the past several years there has been a very great decrease in 

 the number of geese in the San Joaquin Valley. It is apparent that the 

 settling of the country has driven the birds to other localiti(>s. This 

 year better conditions should prevail as the heavy run-off from the 

 Sierras resulting from the heavy snows has filled tlie lower country such 

 as Tulare Lake covering 30,000 acres, and other loafing waters, suf- 

 ficiently to hold the birds. 



QUAIL. 



While the dry years have not been favorable for duck shooting tlicy 

 have been excellent for quail. Birds were reported abundant in all sec- 

 tions of the district. Quail seem to have learned how to take care of 

 themselves better and as soon as the season opens they take to the higher 

 l)rush wliere the hunter has more diriiculty in securing a bag limit. Like- 

 wise the brush, on account of the scarcity of fires, has grown higher and 

 cjuail find better shelter. 



