COMPARISON of the recent reports of other states with 

 that of the game and fish department of Minnesota dis- 

 closed a marked difference in one respect not at all 

 favorable to our own state. The great importance and value 

 of game and fish resources seems to have been recognized to 

 a greater degree in many other states of similar prominence 

 as game states than has been the case in Minnesota. This 

 difference is reflected more in the expenditures made for the 

 maintenance of the game and fish departments and in the 

 revenues derived by the several states than in any other re- 

 spect. For instance, for every dollar that Minnesota spends 

 on her game and fish department, and for every dollar she 

 receives in revenue from this department, Wisconsin spends 

 $2.34 and receives $3.48, Illinois spends $1.67 and receives 

 $2.41, California spends $2.51 and receives $3.36, and even 

 Maine, with an area and population only a little over a third 

 that of Minnesota, spends nearly fifty per cent more than we 

 lo in our state for fish and game conservation. 



In recognition of a long standing need and to cure serious 

 ibuses, a few states have developed systems whereby public 

 service in the game departments is regarded as an honorable 

 )rofession, demanding men of character and ability who are 

 selected for their special fitness for such service, promoted 

 in the ranks for efficient work, and protected in their employ- 

 ment through the operation of a civil service or merit sys- 

 tem. Technical knowledge or special preparation not being 

 required, it is almost impossible to protect the service from 

 incompetence and inefficiency without the merit system, pro- 

 vided by law. 



The proven desirability of the establishment of game ref- 

 uges and preserves as a practical means of game conservation 

 has made a greater impression in some states than in our 

 own, and the idea has been developed in some respects more 

 than it has with us, though Minnesota has long been com- 



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