22 



FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Mountain sheep are reported in a number of localities in the desert 

 mountain ranges of southeastern California, and under proper protec- 

 tion this species should be capable of being permanently preserved, 

 although it is doubtful if the time will arrive when an open season can 

 be permitted. 



Ring-necked pheasants, as I have previously stated, are now found in 

 almost every part of the state. 



With a very large acreage of private land posted against hunting, 

 and with a large number and acreage of state refuges, game birds and 

 animals have a fair opportunity to reproduce and maintain the species. 



The division is making an increased effort toward sensible predatory 

 animal control, but is to date opposed to the so-called bounty system, 

 which has been discarded as unsatisfactory by the federal government 

 and most state agencies. Assuming the state were to pay a bounty of 

 $5 for every coyote killed, there would be an immediate obligation of 

 approximately $70,000 a year to trappers and others who kill coyotes 

 now for their pelt without any bounty being offered ; and if the 

 bounty system is to extend to all animals that are deemed predacious, it 

 would take anywhere from a quarter of a million to a million dollars a 

 year to pay bounty on animals that are normally killed each year. 



Fig. 7. Exhibit used at several county fairs. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 



This bureau has immediate charge of the enforcement laws, the pro- 

 mulgation, supervision and enforcement of rules and regulations gov- 

 erning commercial fishing and the manufacturing of fishery products 

 within the state. Licenses are required of commercial fishermen and 

 permits are issued to manufacturers of fishery products. 



During the year a number of hearings are had to determine the 

 capacity of canning plants, and whether or not such and other manufac- 

 turing plants are entitled to a pel-rait to take food fish for manufactur- 

 ing purposes. 



