12 REPORT OF THK FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



of the extraordinary size of California, which necessitates each warden 

 patrolling an area in some instances as great as the state of Vermont. 

 (See Fig. 6.) 



Nevertheless, the fish and game laws are being enforced as never 

 before. Not only are practically all offenders arrested, but convictions 

 are had in almost every instance. We believe that the consi.stent 

 enforcement of the game laws is a valuable educational force. Nothing 

 deters the criminal so effectually as knowledge that all crimes will be 

 punished with certainty. The favorable attitude shown by the people 

 of this state at the present time is in part due to the systematic and 

 relentless enforcement of fish and game laws. 



In spite of a very severe winter in 1916, game conditions appear to 

 be favorable. Several species of big game, such as antelope and 

 mountain sheep, are little more than holding their own, but every 

 effort is being made to save the remnant. Waterfowl and upland game 

 birds are still to be found in abundance. That more and more men 

 appear to be taking the field each year indicates that California's supply 

 of fish and game is still large enough to encourage, rather than dis- 

 courage, the hunter and angler. Increased interest in hunting and 

 fishing is clearly evidenced by the augmented sale of licenses up to the 

 end of the fiscal year 1914-15. Fewer hunting licenses were sold in 

 1915-16, but there are indications that there will be an increase this 

 eoming year. On the other hand, there was a marked increase in the 

 niimber of anglers' licenses sold in 1915 (for detailed figures see p. 242). 



Enforcement of Fish and Game Laws. 



More arrests have been made and more convictions obtained in this 

 than in any previous biennial period. The fish cases numbered 882 

 and the game cases 1205, making a total of 2087. Over 83 per cent of 

 the total cases resulted in convictions, a higher percentage than is 

 obtained in any other class of cases of like degree. The fines collected 

 amounted to $33,415, and in addition 3103^ daj's of imprisonment 

 were exacted from violators. Failure to secure a license led to the 

 arrest of 424 hunters, 141 anglers and 140 commercial fishermen. 

 Violations of the deer laws resulted in the arrest of 227 and violations 

 of the trout laws 100. The fact that there were 115 convictions in non- 

 game bird cases well shows the strong sentiment in favor of protecting 

 songbirds '(see p. 239). The increased number of arrests in the past 

 few years indicates a more rigid enforcement of the game laws rather 

 than an increase in violations. 



Deputies of the commission have made 512 searches of markets, 

 restaurants, private individuals, conveyances, etc., for illegal fish and 

 game. 



