I 



REPORT OF THE FISH AND CAME COMMISSION. 105 



SO i.«suecl, and to allow a<ji:t'iits so s('llin<j: lie-enscs, llic Iv'^ai coiuinis-ion 

 of ten per cent. 



In conformity with this law, iiimiiiiri-alih' sudi ai^eneies have been 

 created, sport inf^-jrocds stores, hardware and uciu't-al merchandise 

 houses and post otfices amonu' others. In addition to this already com- 

 pnhensive (Iisti'iliu1i(.n. the Aiitoinoliilc (Mnh of Soutlirfn ('alifornia 

 has now placed onr licenses on sale to its 50, ()()() members throuj^di its 

 main oftiee in Los Anuvle.s, and its twenty hi-anehes in all the leading 

 cities of southern ( 'aliforiua. The Automobile club not oidy has co- 

 operated most ch(>erfully in evei-y way through dissennnation of infor- 

 uuition tlirough the wide and highly specialized s|)orting circulation 

 (d" its ''Touring- Topics" magazine; l)ut has with most commendable 

 publii- spirit, waived its lawful conuuission of ten per cent on the large 

 volume of licenses sold, thereby establishing a laudable precedent. 



Today, the huiding and angling licenses are so easily obtainable in 

 southern California that nobody has the least excuse to be without. 

 The rc(iuirements of the law are so universally known, and so conven- 

 iently complied with that convictions for lack of licenses are now negli- 

 gible. 



It is particularly gratifying that the gain in our revenues through 

 thus ( onveniencing the public, has been attained without the loss of a 

 dollar, or any dereliction in accounting, notwithstanding the broadcast 

 nature of the distribution. The system is now so organized that a loss 

 is viitually impos-ible, the Fish and Game Commission being entirely 

 safe-guarded in advance, placing the entire responsibility right where 

 it belongs — namely, upon those who are being paid ten per cent for 

 their services to tlie state. Nor can the very large number of firms 

 thus financially interested, be overlooked as a contributing factor in 

 stinudating the sale of sporting licenses. These merchants are not over- 

 paid for their time and trouble; but their profit comes in the very con- 

 siderable advertising value incidental to the i.ssuanee of licenses, which 

 bring people into their- places of business to leave many a dollar in trade 

 that otherwise would go elsewdiere. Today, a more loyal or conscien- 

 tious organization than these sales agents would be difficult to discover. 



The story of conservation in southern California reads like a 

 ronuince ; nor has the last biennial period proved its least iidere>;ting 

 chapter. Rather, the reverse is true. 



Confronted by a combination of conditions seemingly prohibitive fif- 

 teen years ago — with a population increasing beyond any known pre- 

 cedent and agriculture ever reaching out for all arable lands, as inten- 

 sive nuichine farnnng nui'thods increased human capacity for cultivation 

 — there seemed but a dismal future for the gentleman's field sports of 

 angling and shooting. 



