166 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



is necessary to avoid diffusion of administrative authority. It is important that the 

 secretary's duties not conflict with the responsibilities of the director, not only now 

 but even more so for the future, as it cannot be assumed that future directors and 

 commission members will always have the same basic objectives and aims. 



3. Decentralization 



This report recommends that actual line operations of fish and game programs be 

 decentralized as much as possible to five regions. As later indicated, this will not 

 radically change the marine fisheries work. 



Decentralization of operations is clearly needed in a state as large as California, 

 with its extensive fish and game programs. Confusion has developed in the past because 

 different fish and game programs and complements of personnel have been separately 

 controlled by different officials in the headquarters office. Game conservation em- 

 ployees, fish conservation and marine employees, and patrol employees in given geo- 

 graphical areas have each reported separately to different officials in the headquarters 

 office. 



No one key employee has been at or near the local level to coordinate all fish and 

 game operations. Each group has operated in some ignorance of what the others 

 were doing. Moreover, local sportsmen and other citizens had no one person at the 

 regional level to whom they could go to discuss game, fish, and law enforcement 

 problems. Often they were forced to negotiate with headquarters, which usually was 

 too far away for early and satisfactory contacts. As a result, unnecessary misunder- 

 standings frequently developed. 



To correct these conditions. Chapter 195 directed that the administration of fish 

 and game operations be organized by the new department on a regional basis. Imple- 

 menting that general plan, this report suggests decentralization of fish and game 

 operations to the maximum extent practicable. In charge of each region will be one 

 man with administrative responsibility for programs and personnel within the scope of 

 established policies and programs. The fish and game public can deal with regional 

 managers and obtain satisfaction without referring all matters to headquarters. This 

 form of organization will give better service and assure better understanding by the 

 people of the region. 



This report suggests that there be not more than five composite regions, with the 

 exact boundaries to be developed by the department. This form of organization will 

 give improved service and assure better understanding. 



At the present time, one bureau has five administrative districts ; another seven ; 

 and a third eight. The Bureau of Marine Fisheries has operated on a coastwise and 

 principal river system basis without defined districts. Study indicates that all factors 

 considered, more than five composite regions are not needed. Five regions will bring 

 fish and game administration close to the sportsmen and the general public. More than 

 five regions would lead to substantially greater and continuing administrative expense. 



The specific boundaries of regions must be determined administratively so as to 

 permit changes to be made quickly when indicated. 



As mentioned above, the organization plan contemplates that all functions and 

 activities that can be handled advantageously by the regions should be given to them. 

 More specifically it is suggested that, subject to central office control, the regions be 

 responsible for supervision of operations such as the following : 



Fish management: Hatchery operations ; fish planting ; rough fish control ; fish 

 allocation according to a state-wide plan ; construction and maintenance of fish 

 screens and ladders ; lake and stream improvement ; assistance in fish surveys and 

 inventories ; fish rescue operations. 



Game management: Operation of game farms; predator control, habitat develop- 

 ment ; game inventories ; waterfowl areas ; public shooting areas ; cooperative hunt- 

 ing areas ; management of game refuges. 



Wildlife protection: Land and marine law enforcement; reserve patrol; crop 

 damage investigation and control. 



Conservation education : Information to the regional public on fish and game 

 problems, policies, programs, laws, and regulations. 



Other: Business functions including regional record keeping ; licenses — direct sale 

 over counter, distribution to agents, accountability for licenses distributed to agents. 



Operational phases of federal-aid fish and game programs, exclusive of research 

 projects. 



