144 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



value of the absolute closure of all shooting in summer been so plainly 

 demonstrated as in southern California. Now the man who shoots 

 announces himself as violating the law — a "poacher upon the public'' — 

 and blazes the trail to justice. 



The rabbit law. like the late trout-opening, has put in the hands of 

 the patrol force a practical power of enforcement equal to trebling its 

 numbers, and is therefore a state asset of at least triple the present 

 pay roll every month. AYhat its incidental benefits in building up a 

 more attractive game supply may be, only the future growth of the 

 state through these most potent inducements can tell. Experience has 

 proved that the love of the rod and gun lies deep in most normal men ; 

 and that, other things approximately equal, the majority will east their 

 lot where they may cast their line with alluring chance of success ; will 

 risk getting their gains where thej- stand chance of getting their game 

 with it. This is not theory, but the most practical reasoning in the 

 world. 



Few realize the value of good shooting and fishing as an inducement 

 to tourists and home seekers to come this way ; but in the South, world- 

 famed as the playground of men of means, whatever adds to the joy of 

 life by luring to the outdoors must be even more important than else- 

 where. Nor is the value solely that of an attraction. In these days of 

 preparedness, who can say how essential may prove these rugged sports 

 which make men of boys by taking the youth of the land away from 

 saloons, pool-rooms and low city company to healthful hills, building 

 strength, self-reliance, character that may one day stand between the 

 nation and its fate ? 



Kealizing the attraction power of the deer interest, the Southern 

 Division under Commissioner Connell's orders, set about making of 

 1916 a grand "clean-up" of chronic violators whose proclivities for 

 more or less systematic stealing of sport from the law-abiding by 

 "soonering" ahead of the legal opening date, have been under espionage 

 for some time. Backed by repeated information from staunch friends 

 of law and order, the commission was able to accumulate the necessary 

 evidence to run to earth and conAdet no less than ten confirmed offenders 

 of this class to the great delight of those whose sport in years past had 

 suffered from such marauders. Late in July, Deputy Becker, after a 

 hard chase through the most inaccessible portions of the rugged, craggy 

 Malibu range, known as the "Happy Hunting Ground" of the 

 moderate-circumstanced, short-timed Los Angeles deer seeker, brought 

 to justice Charles Decker and his followers, who were fined. Decker 

 admitted upon the stand the killing of hundreds of deer at all seasons. 

 A few days later, Deputy Barnett succeeded in catching and convicting 

 two hardened offenders ; one of them, Byron Secor, had made a business 

 of violating by shipping and selling venison illegally killed. Earlier, 

 Becker uncovered the evidence upon which he convicted Tony Ferriera 



