REPORT OP THE PISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 145 



of killiug a deer many months previous, in a forest reserve. All told, 

 1916 was a bad year for the deer crooks, and did more to put the protec- 

 tion of deer upon a solid footing in the south than all past time com- 

 bined. 



Arrests and convictions for infractions of the quail and dove laws 

 have been weekly occurrences, mostly small matters wherein a motorist 

 had knocked over a quail or two along the road, or "potted" a few 

 doves from posts or wires, unable to withstand the temptation, which is 

 always safely met by leaving the gun at home. The day when men 

 will set forth to make a bag in the closed season is past in southern 

 California. It has become not only an expensive but also a most un- 

 popular practice. 



At the opening of the trout season. Commissioner Council made use 

 of the emergency appointment provisions of civil service to extend the 

 patrol force to such proportions that three dozen competent wardens 

 were keeping an eye open along streams and lakes, camps being estab- 

 lished at centers of angling interest such as Bear Valley and Little 

 Bear, under the direction of veteran patrol officers, and the fish were 

 given every possible opportunity to cast their spawn in peace during 

 April. Already the effects are being seen along streams as well as in 

 the lakes. The torrential storms of January washed so severely many 

 of the gorge streams that only extraordinary measures could have built 

 up a breeding stock from the remnant left ; but there is reason to believe 

 that when supplemented with the outcome of last fall's plantings, this 

 task has been accomplished. 



Although commercial fisheries conservation is public service work of 

 the very broadest character, and there is some moral question as to the 

 right of the Fish and Game Commission to divert the moneys collected 

 from hunters and fishermen to this service, the commercial fishermen 

 have themselves contributed in excess of $10,000 in license fees this 

 year, not to mention quite a sum collected in fines from convicted 

 offenders, and in this way have built up a fund which will finance con- 

 siderable work in the public behalf. Owing to poor advice, some of the 

 ignorant aliens refused to take license, and it became necessary for the 

 sea-patrol under Deputies Pritchard, Nidever and Barnett to make a 

 grand "clean-up" during June which resulted in no less than forty-six 

 arrests and nearly as many convictions. The licensees found that 

 fishing privileges come cheaper from the commission than from justices 

 of the peace. The Japanese gave no trouble whatever, taking license 

 en masse through the secretary of their association, and to their credit 

 may it be said that they respect the laws even better than the American 

 citizens, once the laws are grasped and understood by their head men. 

 Acting upon complaints from the Tuna Club regarding violations of 

 the closed "District No. 20" comprising the state waters surrounding 

 Santa Catalina Island, the sea-patrol has maintained surveillance 



10—26231 



