TIIIKT1KT1I BIENNIAL REPORT 



VOLUNTEER DEPUTIES 



At the 1927 session of the state legislature the Fish and Game Com- 

 mission was empowered to employ deputies with or without pay. This 

 made possible the building up of a volunteer warden system in a 

 better way than previous experience with dollar-a-year and nonsalaried 

 wardens. A captain of patrol was placed in charge of the organization 

 and instruction of these volunteer deputies. Under the present regu- 

 lations 790 men have been commissioned as volunteer deputies. Of 

 these 340 were regular members of the United States Forest Service 

 and 450 were sponsored by bona fide fish and game protective associa- 

 tions and the commission. In welding these volunteer deputies into a 

 working system under the department of patrol considerable pioneer- 

 ing has been necessary. However, some satisfactory results have been 

 had and the whole project is being watched and handled by the division 

 with the greatest scrutiny and care to see if it is possible to secure an 

 effective, widespread means of law enforcement with but little cost 

 and financial outlay. Reports indicate that during the biennium 

 31,900 licenses were checked and 336,152 miles of territory were 

 patrolled by volunteer deputies, and that they also arrested or assisted 

 in the arrest of 487 violators. Mention should likewise be made of the 

 splendid assistance furnished by county game wardens, who have also 

 been appointed volunteer deputies. 



FISH PLANTING 



In times past, fish from the hatcheries were allotted to boards of 

 supervisors, sportsmen's organizations, and other groups and indi- 

 viduals, and as a result fish oftentimes were placed in streams which 

 dried up, and in other unsatisfactory locations. Nor was there a 

 uniform system of allotment, Neither were the many inexperienced 

 people receiving such fish able to give them the proper care, and as a 

 result many fish died, or were improperly planted. The system of 

 allotment was accordingly changed, emphasis being directed upon 

 placing the fish in the best possible situation. Deputies of our patrol 

 force were asked to secure recommendations from reliable sources and, 

 in addition, make their own investigations and report same to their 

 captain. Captains of districts were required to consolidate the allot- 

 ments for the whole district and forward to the captain in charge 

 of fish planting for the whole state, who, in conjunction with the 

 superintendent of fish culture, revised and consolidated these reports 

 from which formal hatchery allotment sheets were prepared. Fish from 

 hatcheries were consigned directly to the captain, who had complete 

 charge and control of the planting within his district. He was assisted 

 by the deputies, sportsmen and others. 



Additional advantages have been realized by this new method of 

 planting, in that fish are handled by more experienced men, shallow 

 and suitable water is selected for planting, and fish are widely scat- 

 tered instead of being dumped into one large pool where overcrowd- 

 ing is the result, and larger fish take a toll by cannibalism. Captains 

 and deputies during 1927 assisted and directed the planting of over 

 eighteen million trout in lakes and streams with small resulting loss. 

 Each year should see more improvements and better results in this 

 work as the field force become more experienced and better trained, 

 and better equipment is secured. 



