REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS 71 



especially in all the mountain counties during the summer months 

 when the tourists and campers visit those sections. Most of these peo- 

 ple are law-ahiding citizens at home, but are inclined to treat the fish 

 and game laws lightly when in the remote mountains, thereby setting a 

 bad example to the natives, who resent the idea of having their fish and 

 game taken without stint by the summer visitors. An efficient and 

 properly paid game warden can do good work during that time of the 

 year at least. Wherever the fitness of the individual has been given 

 first consideration, in such counties do we find the laws observed. We 

 have made it a rule to issue credentials to the county wardens, as it 

 incr the scope of their authority and gives them full power to 



make arrests outside of their own county lines. In this way we have 

 been able to pay something for such additional service, and it has also 

 had the effect of causing two or three good men to remain in office. Ex- 

 perience has shown it is best in the long run to make the compensation 

 sufficient to be an inducement for a good man to seek it. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Realizing the urgent need for economy, we are making but one 

 request with reference to increased appropriations, and this deals with a 

 great industry, on-' of such far-reaching importance that we feel that it 

 is not only warranted, but absolutely imperative in order to maintain 

 the present efficiency of our hatchery department. It is generally 

 recognized that our li<h cultural work, especially in regard to salmon, 

 stands in the front rank in the United Stat--. We have accomplished 

 this on the very modest appropriation of $12,500 per year, and it ap- 

 pears to us that the great State of California can well afford to increase 

 tins amount ^o.OOO per annum, or $10,000 for two years. This would 

 still leave our appropriation for the support and maintenance of hatch- 

 eries less than $20,000 per year. As the hatchery work has broadened, 

 and the experience of our skillful hatchery force correspondingly 

 enriched, they are in demand by other states, which are anxious to 

 improve in their methods of artificial propagation of fishes. We feel 

 that these men belong to the State of California, and that it can not 

 afford to lose their services at this time. It must be remembered that 

 fish culturists are scarce. For years our men have struggled along, 

 enduring all kinds of privations, and endangering sometimes their lives 

 as well as their general health, by exposure to the climatic extremes 

 that are found in this State. They are worthy of more pay. The 

 small increase asked for would enable us to more nearly compensate 

 them to the full value of their services and also permit us to make the 

 necessary repairs and smaller improvements that are essential to keep 

 pace with the growing demands of the work. We believe that every 



