TWENTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 27 



Valley, was promoted to assistant chief and transferred to the San 

 Francisco office. Mr. Briggs' field experience and education makes 

 him well qualified for his more responsible duties. 



Just before the close of the biennial period, a civil service examina- 

 tion was held to establish an eligible list from which deputies of the 

 Commission could be selected. It w^as found that approximately one- 

 half of the deputies employed were wdthout civil service standing. 

 Practically all of the men employed by the Commission passed the 

 examination and v/ere given the protection of civil service regulations. 



In March, 1926, a convention of the deputies of the Commission was 

 held in San Francisco. The men of the entire staff were brought 

 logether and w'ere instructed by members of the Commission in their 

 duties and informed regarding branches of our w'ork of which they 

 had little knowledge. It is hoped that w^e will be able to hold other 

 conventions in the future, as much good results from such gatherings. 



During the biennium deputies made a total of 1432 arrests for 

 violations of the game laws and 1675 arrests for violations of the laws 

 relating to fish. A total of $104,455 was assessed in fines together with 

 5098 days imprisonment. These figures show an average of over four 

 arrests per day and an average income from fines for the fish and 

 game protective fund of more than $143 for every day of the two- 

 year period. These figures should show that wardens are on the alert 

 for violations and that a determined effort is being made to adequately 

 enforce the fish and game laws. 



The study of the diseases and the causes of the reduction in abund- 

 ance of our various species of wild life has been more or less neglected 

 by the Commission in the past. A bureau has now been planned within 

 the Department of Patrol, that will make a study of diseases and con- 

 ditions affecting game animals and birds. "We know that epidemics 

 often cause a serious loss of life from time to time in domestic 

 animals and that the study of these diseases has resulted in the saving 

 of thousands of dollars. If the same methods, modified as necessity 

 requires, can be adopted in controlling the diseases of ^^'<ild animals,- 

 we shall accomplish much in v/ild life conservation. Hence, it will be 

 the duty of the new bureau to make a study of everything that affects 

 game in the field. In the past, deer have been subject to serious epi- 

 demics that have caused the death of thousands of animals. The duck 

 disease that appears more or less regularly every year, kills possibly 

 hundreds of thousands of birds. We knowlhat there are diseases that 

 affect our quail and greatly reduce their numbers. If these natural 

 losses can be elirajinated, there will be more game left for the sports- 

 men to harvest and more game to propagate in the field. This work 

 offers great possibilities and should be carried on by the Fish and 

 Game Commission of every state in the union. 



The patrol department is cooperating fully with every other depart- 

 ment of the Fish and Game Commission, particularly so with the 

 Department of Fish Culture. Previous to the sending of fish to the 

 various patrol districts, the captain of that district is notified, and 

 when possible an experienced deputy receives the fish and accompanies 

 them to the streams in Which they are to be planted. The deputies have 

 made a survey of the state and have reported the condition of the 

 screens and ladders on the various streams. Similar cooperation has 



