12 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



such Other evidence as is acceptable to us to justify presenting the claim 

 to the Board of Control for approval. 



There was a steady decrease from year to year in the number of 

 pelts received and claims presented, until a specially trained hunter 

 was employed. The largest number taken in any one calendar year 

 was 482 in 1908. For the calendar year 1918, 243 bounty claims were 

 paid, and for the calendar year 1919, 214 were paid. It was decided in 

 1917 to increase the bounty to $30 for the pelt of the female lion as a 

 further inducement to those living in the mountain lion country to hunt 

 them, as it requires trained dogs, as well as much patience and hard 

 rough work, to locate and finally tree them. 



As the game refuges increased in number and shooting not being 

 permitted there, nor in the National Parks, the lions seemed to avail 

 themselves of those shelters. The Commission in 1918 decided to adopt 

 further measures and engaged the services of Mr. Jay C. Bruce, an 

 experienced mountaineer and lion hunter, the possessor of highly 

 trained dogs, to take up the work as a regular deputy and devote his 

 time especially to the refuges and parks, but also to respond to the call 

 from any section where lions were reported as doing damage. 



The increased results have fully justified his employment, as in ad- 

 dition to the lions, he destroys all other predatory animals destructive 

 to game. 



A page showing the total number of lions killed to January 1, 1920, 

 by counties, and for which the bounty has been paid, will be found in 

 the appendix. 



ARRESTS AND FINES. 



The work of our patrol force is best shown by the official record of 

 its accomplishments, which clearly indicates that the work has been 

 thorough and far reaching; that it covers every class of offense relating 

 to the fish and game laws, and that it has reached into every corner of 

 the State. This statement is based upon the detailed history, shown in 

 our book of arrests and fines, of each case made. 



The number of arrests and amount of fines assessed upon offenders 

 during the biennial period is the greatest in the history of the Commis- 

 sion, totaling 1891 arrests and $49,426 in fines. 



We do not claim that all violators of the fish and game laws have 

 been apprehended. The opportunities afforded through the now general 

 use of the automobile renders detection and capture more difficult. Our 

 force is placed at the same disadvantage thereby as our city and 

 county officers charged with the enforcement of other sections of the 

 Penal Code, but we do confidently claim that no other body of officers, 

 city, county or state, can show a cleaner record or a higher state of 



