14 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



The seizures of illegal fish and game have been many. The more 

 conspienoiis totals are : ducks. 6695 ; geese, 1265 ; quail, 432 ; shore birds, 

 120 ; rabbits, 462 ; deer meat. 3802 pounds ; trout, 5293 pounds ; striped 

 bass, 3900 pounds ; salmon, 4195 pounds. All wholesome fish and game 

 confiscated is donated to public and charitable institutions, from whom 

 many grateful letters of acknowledgment have been received. Illegally 

 used fishing apparatus, including nets, lines, etc., to the number of 337, 

 have been confiscated. These represent about 12,668 fathoms, or 76,008 

 feet. This apparatus, after condemnation in superior courts, is 

 destroyed or sold in accordance with law. 



The Protection of Fish and Game. 



Since the development of public sentiment is necessary to the proper 

 conservation of wild life, emphasis has been placed on educational and 

 publicity work. The Bureau of Education, Publicity and Research 

 has been active in placing before the people of the state, by means of 

 lectures, a quarterly bulletin, and newspaper items, the work of the 

 commission ajid the needs of fish and game. The motto of this 

 department is "Conservation Through Education." The quarterly, 

 California Fish and Game, has furnished a medium for the publication 

 of statistical and financial reports and of facts regarding fish and game 

 resources. This policy of keeping the people of the state informed of 

 the status of, and the activities of the commission in conserving fish and 

 game, has been instrumental in winning needed support for conserva- 

 tion measures and in increasing interest in the bird and animal life of 

 the state. In preparation for further work of this kind and of future 

 legislation a great deal of data has been accumulated. For example, 

 the kill of deer has been annually compiled in order that there might 

 be a basis for regulating the annual kill to the supply. Material 

 in the form of teachers' bulletins has been issued and the attempt 

 made to stimulate the teaching of nature study in the public schools. 

 The proper education of children is a fundamental conservation meas- 

 ure. Such research problems as the food of the roadrunner, the food 

 of ducks, and the status .of introduced game birds have been undertaken 

 and other economic and scientific investigations are contemplated. 



The prosecution of such publicity as is being furnished by the Bureau, 

 backed as it is by scientific research, will necessarily bring about a new 

 era as regards wild life conservation. Knowledge of wild life and its 

 needs assures good laws and the efficient patrol force helps to assure 

 consistent obedience of them. 



The newspapers of the state, especially those of southern California, 

 have shown great interest in fish and game matters, and the publicity 

 given by them has greatly aided the commission in successfully carrying 

 forward its work. 



