REPORT OF 'I'lIK FISH AND CAME COMMISSION. 103 



Wlu'ii. from a [x'l'ct'iita.uc ol' 90.8, tlir (oiivid ions in one year ,iiini|) 1o 

 96.4; and tlie avcrajje fine ascends IVoiii .'ff.S^.o^ to i{^36.51 ; with llio 

 number of convictions I'isiii^ i'rom lo'.t in l!»l!) to ^'M^ in 1!)2(), supported 

 by fines of $3,252.50 in l!»l!t swclliii-;- in one year to $4,9()(). there appears 

 considcfahh' labiiliitcd food for thmiu-ht, II' these fi<;ures do not re- 

 flect a stitfcninj^ of [)ul>lic sentiment in I'aNor of sti-ict enfoi'cement 

 of the conservation laws, what then shall lie said at the almost doubled 

 totals of days of jail seidence imposed last year as compared with the 

 twelvemonth pi-eceding:' The figures were 245 days ajrainst 480 up 

 to June 30. 1920. fjikewise. the total luimlier of [H'oseeiit ions increased 

 from 120. ill IDlD. to 141. in 1!I2(), despite very satisfactory evidence 

 that the laws are l)eing respected more generally than ever before. 



Had statistics been founded sutficiently early to show the increase in 

 popular cooperation as expressed in information written, telephoned or 

 frivi'U by personal call, the flurures would undoubtedly luive shown an 

 even more sensational gain. Establishing the rule that no such call 

 should ever fail to receive the promptest and most painstaking atten- 

 tion, it has become possible to build up a very considerable volunteer 

 intelligence service which is steadilv extending over the country, and 

 proving of tlie very greatest value in putting a practical point to patrol 

 work by focussing attention upon centers of violation. In a territory 

 so comprehensive as southern California, and one whose fishing waters 

 and game-fields are so widely separated, something of this sort is an 

 essential preliminary to effective accomplishment. With an area larger 

 than many states, yet containing seldom more than one regular ap- 

 pointee in any one county, nevertheless, the law-abiding sportsman 

 insists ur)on seeing the fish and game laws enforced far more exten- 

 sivdy — and intensively — than the orilinances of his own cit\- where a 

 hundred times as many specially trained patrolmen are inadequate to 

 prevent nearly every law on the statute books being broken repeatedly 

 every day. Nevertheless, there is but one course open, and that is to 

 briuu- up the service to the utmost efficiency possible under the controll- 

 ing conditions. This is being done, and nothing is overlooked that may 

 tend toward further enlisting that public confidence which manifests 

 itself most practically in the form of whole-souled volunteer coopera- 

 tion. 



There was a time when deserving volunteers, desirous of aiding di- 

 rectly the enforcenieni of fish and game conservation laws, could be 

 specially deputized: but all such unsalaried help has now become im- 

 possible owing to the Employers' Liability acts which are construed 

 as placing a fair charge against the conservation funds for any injury 

 that might befall even an unsalaried officer, if operating luider authority 

 conferred by this Commission. Since no man can waive the rights of 

 his heirs in liim. the numerous applii-ants for special l)adges have been 



