THIRTY-EIGHTH BIENNIAL REPORT 45 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF LICENSES 



By IT. R. DrxHAR, Chief 



The biennium from July 1, 1!)42, to June 30, 1944, has presented 

 many problems in the distribution and sale of licenses. Due to the 

 various wartime restrictions, license sales have decreased and we have 

 lost many of our license agencies as they were unable to obtain merchan- 

 dise, or the lack of help caused them to discontinue handling licenses 

 for the duration. 



In past years, it has been difficult to maintain proper distribution 

 of licenses in the northern counties of the State and at times the sports- 

 men found it difficult to purchase their licenses. In July of 1942, an office 

 was established at Redding. This office served all cash agents in Trinity, 

 Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Modoc, and Lassen Counties. The office also 

 serves as headquarters for the Patrol captain for the same territory. 



In the distribution and sale of our licenses and tags, the license 

 agents who conduct sporting goods, hardware, and various types ^ of 

 businesses, play an important part in assisting the division in making 

 it possible for the sportsmen to obtain their licenses throughout the 

 State. To simplify the work of the agents, the style of the license book 

 was changed by eliminating the separate application form and incor- 

 porating it with the license stub. This has saved the agents considerable 

 time and work, and they are well pleased with the change. 



For various reasons as a result of the war, our license sales have 

 decreased from the sale in 1941. Gasoline rationing and areas closed to 

 hunting have been important factors in the decrease in sales. During 

 the 1942 deer hunting season, all of Southern California and coastal 

 areas were closed to hunting except the area north of San Francisco, 

 which area was opened from August 1st to August 21st. In 1942, the 

 deer tag sale dropped from a total of $173,699 in 1941 to $116,121. 

 Hunting licenses dropped from $643,700 in 1941 to $522,985 in 1942. 

 During the 1943 deer hunting season, the same areas were closed as in 

 1942 although in the month of December hunting was permitted in 

 Southern California and the coastal area south of San Francisco. This 

 resulted in an increase in deer tag sales from $116,121 in 1942 to $147,755 

 in 1943. 



During the 1943 Session of the Legislature, a law was approved 

 providing for a pheasant tag costing $1. Due to priorities and other 

 causes, it was not possible to obtain a suitable type of tag. A cardboard 

 tag, similar to the deer tag, was finally adopted. Approximately $121,000 

 in tags were sold. 



The annual antelope drawing, as provided by Section 1346, was 

 held at Sacramento on August 13, 1943. In all, 3,653 persons made 

 application. Of the first 500 applicants who were entitled to a permit, 

 379 made application and were issued a permit. The 500th or last 

 permit was issued to the applicant whose drawing number was 716. 



The commission, in compliance with Section 1347, provided for an 

 elk season in Inyo County in the fall of 1943. A drawing similar to that 

 held for antelope was held at the Fish and Game office at Los Angeles on 

 November 8, 1943. There were 2,837 applications received. Permits 

 were issued to the 75 applicants who qualified at the drawing. 



