REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONS 11 



We have strongly insisted upon this point: that we regard the arrest 

 of an individual an important matter to him as well as to ourselves, 

 and the evidence in every ease should be sufficient to command the 

 respect of the judge and the jury. We have been criticised at times 

 because we have not caused an arrest upon some complaint that was 

 undoubtedly made in good faith, but the investigation did not develop 

 sufficient evidence, in our judgment, to take the case into court. We 

 know that so many pleas of guilty are filtered owing to the fact that 

 deputies have he reful judgment before making am -•-. 



For the two years ending August 31, 1906, our force has to its credit 

 774 arrests, against 560 for the two pre< eding years, showing a gain of 

 224. Fur violations of the game laws 150 arrests were made, against 

 325 for the preceding two years. For violation- of the fish laws 324 

 arrests were made, as against 225 for the preceding two years. The total 

 amount of fines imposed for violations of both i i - 1 1 and game lawg 

 $23,154.90. Of this amount $13,600 was imposed for violations of the 

 fish Laws, and $9,554.90 for violations of the game laws. The largest 

 amount imposed for transgr — ion of any of I me laws was for vio- 



lations of those provisions which relate to deer, there being 165 arrests, 

 and fines imposed amounting to $4,330, as against $100 in 1897 98. 

 The next was for violating the law relating to striped bass, for which 

 offenses the aggregate sum of $4,120 was imposed, as against $100 ten 

 years ago. 



We believe in following a liberal but progressive policy, forging 

 ahead from year to year, and carrying with as public sentiment, the 

 support of which is absolutely essential to a proper enforcement of 

 these law-. 



That our policy lias been supported is shown by the larger number of 

 arrests and amounts paid in fines. We recognize the existence of 

 slight inequalities in the law. but we believe it to be the part of wisdom 

 to make haste slowly; to hold to that of which we are sure and which 

 our people are learning to respect more and more every year. 



The public, the courts, and the peace officers are becoming more 

 familiar with the fish and game laws, and, with the limited number of 

 changes we will recommend, a large majority of our people will be 

 satisfied that their best interests are fully served. 



Our regular deputies have seized thousands of pounds of fish and 

 game in transit; fish that were underweight, or that had been taken in 

 violation of the law; prohibited game offered for sale, or shipped con- 

 trary to statutory provisions; also for violation of the bag limit. In 

 many cases, conviction followed the seizure. In others, owing to the 

 use of fictitious names, we were unable to locate the shippers; their 

 punishment was effected by confiscation of the shipment, which penal- 

 ized them to the extent of getting no returns for the time or labor 

 involved in its capture. 



