INTRODUCTION. 



The past biennial period has been one of marked advance in the 

 protection and preservation of wild life, the propagation of fish, the 

 stocking of streams, the construction of fish ladders and screens, and 

 above all in the accumulation of important data on fish and game and 

 in the development of a public sentiment favoring wild life conserva- 

 tion. All of the duties of the commission as prescribed by law and 

 above outlined have been performed as fully and faithfully as the 

 financial and other resources have allowed. 



The accomplishments here reported have been made possible through 

 funds obtained by the sale of hunting licenses, commercial fishermen's 

 licenses and anglers' licenses, and from fines received from violators. 

 No appropriations have been made by the legislature. Although the 

 larger burden of support rightly falls on the men who hunt and fish. 

 yet, either no revenue, or revenue not in proportion to the benefit 

 received, is derived from others having an interest in game resources. 

 For instance, the fisherman who secures but a few fish each day which 

 he sends to market, pays a larger license fee than the salmon cannery, 

 which profits enormously by the fact that the fish supply is maintained. 

 The market hunter who commercializes game pavs the same license as 

 the man who hunts but once a year. The trapper of fur-bearing mam- 

 mals pays nothing towards the support of investigations needed to 

 as.sure the conservation of the resources from which he draws profit. 

 Could the license fees be made proportionate to the benefits secured, 

 funds would be available for the further development of the game 

 and fishery resources by the commission. 



Many eastern fish and game commissions have the cooperation of 

 numerous sportsmen's organizations, who hire attorneys and otherwise 

 help in conserving game. There are few active organizations of this 

 kind in California and the enforcement of the fish and game laws and 

 efforts to conserve fish and game rest almost wholly with the com- 

 mission. The problem is made still more complicated because of the 

 lack of cooperation shown by the peace officers of the state and because 



