62 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



obtain the necessary office equipment to keep the records controlling the 

 distribution and license sales of each agent. 



It is our purpose to carry on this work along the same lines that a 

 large commercial concern would use to control their credit accounts — 

 however, with this difference — we considered it our responsibility to keep 

 the agent supplied with licenses at all times, whether he requisitioned the 

 licenses or not. During the six month period — January 1 to June 30, 

 1946 — that this system has been in operation, it has proved very satis- 

 factory and we believe we are in a position to give the sportsmen better 

 service than we have in the past. To carry out the credit distribution, 

 the State is divided into five districts with a branch office in each district 

 to serve all of the agents of that particular district. The principal office 

 of the bureau is maintained at Sacramento with branches in Redding, 

 Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Fresno. 



Several years ago the premium rate on our license bond was $5 per 

 thousand. Due to close supervision of the agents, and by holding the 

 claims filed with the surety company to a minimum, the premium rate 

 was reduced, first to $3, then to $2.50, and with the renewal of our sched- 

 ule bond in February of 1946, a further reduction to $2 per thousand 

 was made. 



The pheasant tag law, which became effective in 1943, was repealed 

 by the 1945 Legislature — consequently there were no pheasant tag sales 

 for that year. The sale of pheasant tags for 1943 amounted to $121,186. 

 In 1944 the sale was $105,923. 



The commission, acting under the provisions of Section 1346, Fish 

 and Game Code, provided for antelope hunts in both 1944 and 1945. In 

 1944, 3,910 persons made applications. In 1945 the number of applicants 

 had increased to 4,675. At the time of the drawing in 1945, of the first 500 

 names drawn, 119 were from women. 



The commission did not set a season for elk hunting in either 1944 

 or 1945. Consequently no drawings were held. 



The trend of increased license sales has been caused by the increased 

 population and returned service men, but the new all credit method of 

 license distribution has practically eliminated area shortages that for- 

 merly occurred, and has also contributed to the increased sale. 



