THIRTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT 61 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF LICENSES 



In the distribution and sale of licenses this bureau has three objec- 

 tives : 



First, to establish as many agencies throughout the State as possible 

 so as to enable the sportsmen to obtain licenses whenever and wherever 

 they may apply. Second, to maintain a harmonious and friendly rela- 

 tionship with these agencies in order to secure their cooperation, since 

 they are the means by which we are able to sell the licenses to the sports- 

 men. Third, to give the agencies the best possible service in supplying 

 them with licenses for the purpose of overcoming the possibility of a 

 shortage when such licenses are most needed by the sportsmen. 



During the biennium which covered the war years we were some- 

 what handicapped in maintaining proper distribution of licenses through- 

 out the State because many of our former agents had gone out of busi- 

 ness or, due to lack of help and inability to obtain sporting goods 

 merchandise, had discontinued handling licenses. During these years the 

 sale of licenses showed a slight decrease which, in a measure, was caused 

 by wartime restrictions on travel and so forth. However, in the latter 

 part of 1944 it was noticeable that there was a greater demand on the 

 part of sportsmen for licenses. 



The bureau anticipated that the end of World War II would stimu- 

 late our license sales. It, therefore, was considered advisable that we 

 change the method of distributing licenses to our agents. 



There were two methods of distribution : 



One, where the agent paid cash in advance for the value of licenses 

 needed, and any licenses that remained unsold were returned, and the 

 value refunded to them. These agents were paid 5 percent of the amount 

 of sales accounted for and a majority of the agencies throughout the 

 Statp operated under tliis plan. 



Two, a method where the agent was placed under a bond and licenses 

 were sent to him on a credit or consignment basis. The agent then remitted 

 regularly on licenses that were sold, and as compensation he was paid 

 three and a half percent (3^%) of the amount accounted for. 



With the expectation of an increase in our license sales it was believed 

 that the first, or cash plan of distribution, would not be satisfactory 

 because many of our agents had small business establishments and prob- 

 ably did not have sufficient capital available to purchase the number of 

 licenses needed to serve the sportsmen. 



In the 1945 session of the State Legislature a bill previously approved 

 by the Fish and Game Commission, was introduced. This bill placed all 

 license distribution entirely on a credit, or consignment basis and allowed 

 the agent 5 percent of the amount of sales accounted for. This bill was 

 given approval and became effective on January 1, 1946 with the issu- 

 ance of the 1946 angling licenses. 



There was considerable work involved in contacting all of the former 

 cash agents, getting them signed up under the new method, and deter- 

 mining the value of licenses of various kinds and denominations that 

 should be sent to them. We were handicapped also in not being able to 



