TWENTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 71 



such eonditioiLs good men can not be retained, and tlie following of 

 fundamental and difficult aim.s is rendered hopeless. The remedy lies 

 plainly at hand, to formally organize the scientific work, to formally 

 provide for good advice and cooperation from the outside world of 

 science, and to see that our aims are rendered obligatory in so far as 

 is proper and in such a way as to protect them from ignorance or malice. 



The whole of modern fisheries science teaches the lesson that ade([uate 

 statistics are continuous statistics; that conservation implies continuous 

 observation; and that some of the most fundamental problems are yet 

 unsolved and nuist be the object of unremitting attack by biologists. 

 And unless our work here can be placed on a permanent basis and pro- 

 vision made for its close, intimate contact with the whole field of work, 

 tbere is little utility in proceeding further. 



The writer would tlierefore recommend a legal foundation for the 

 formal organization of the laboratory, the formation of a cooperative 

 arrangement with the Federal Bureau of Fisheries, and the creation 

 of an advisory committee oi- board to keep a general supervision of the 

 scientific work. The time is most opportune for these things, in that 

 the bureau is fi'icndl.N'. and that the vfirious states are awakening to the 

 need of the study of conservation. I^y our action we can set a prece- 

 dent whereby the bureau can be made a unifying and correlating 

 agency between the several states, to the end that cumbrous and awk- 

 ward treaty control can be avoided. 



The writer would also urge that the work done up to tlie present 

 has demonstrated the importance of the statistical system, and its 

 intimate connection with the biological work. He would recommend 

 the careful reorganization of the statistical system to free it from any 

 danger of its devotion to erroneous ends, and to place it under the 

 immediate direction of a scientifically trained man. 



Respectfully submitted. 



W. F. Thompson, 



In charge. 



REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 

 PUBLICITY Arv^D RESEARCH. 



The Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, 

 State of California, Sacramento, Cal. 



Sirs: It is with a feeling of gratification that I hand you herewith 

 a report on the activities and accomplishments of the Department of 

 Education, Publicity and Research, which you will find, reviews the 

 most successful biennial period, so far as service to the i)ublic is con- 

 cerned, since the establishment of the department in 1914. I am more 

 than ever convinced that no more fundamental conservation work can 

 be done than that accomplished through the development of a public 

 sentiment favorable to wild life conservation. 



The past biennial period has been marked by increasing demand for 

 lectures and displays of motion pictures. Some of the increased demand 

 has come from the numerous men's clubs such as Rotarj^ Lions and 

 Kiwanis. Continued endeavor has been made to reach the numerous 



