FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 171 



integrated program operated by a unified team in accordance with departmental poli- 

 cies. They should have substantial capacity for leadership and administration. While 

 primarily they should be men with general administrative ability, technical training 

 and experience in one of more specialized fish and game subject matter areas would be 

 desirable. 



Reporting to the regional manager in all regions will be four persons who will be 

 immediately responsible for as many phases of the work : Game management, inland 

 fisheries, wildlife protection (patrol and law enforcement), and office management. In 

 two more populous regions there will be a fifth person to be responsible for conserva- 

 tion education work. Later, a person for conservation education work might be added 

 in one or more of the remaining regions, if the need is demonstrated. 



The plan proposes that new positions of supervising game manager and supervising 

 fisheries manager be established to be in immediate charge of game and inland fisheries 

 programs. These positions will have higher stature than the current positions of game 

 manager, assistant supervisor of fish hatcheries, and district fisheries biologist in order 

 to effectively supervise subordinate employees. It is suggested that in so far as possible 

 the new positions be obtained through reclassification of lower positions, rather than 

 through the budgeting of additional positions. Likewise, the new regional positions to 

 be in charge of office management should, wherever possible, be obtained through trans- 

 fer and reclassification rather than through the budgeting of additional positions. 



Informal proposals have been advanced by departmental officials fur establishing a 

 public information position at the regional level. This report suggests that a conserva- 

 tion education position be established in regional offices at San Francisco and Los An- 

 geles as it is believed that conservation education employees assigned to those regions 

 will contribute substantially to the success of fish and game programs through better 

 public understanding. 



6. Marine Patrol 



This report recommends that the regions along the coast assume direct responsibility 

 for marine patrol operations. 



Under the present organization, the Bureau of Patrol and Law Enforcement operates 

 both land and marine patrol and law enforcement units. Line control over both land and 

 marine patrol units is maintained from the state headquarters office. Under the recom- 

 mended organizational plan, actual operations of both land and marine patrol activities 

 and forces will be taken over by the regions. 



The Marine Patrol enforces laws applying to marine, commercial, and sport fishing. 

 Its staff consists of marine wardens along the coast who are land based and marine 

 personnel who are assigned to law enforcement boats. 



It is suggested that marine patrol be handled as far as possible on a regional basis 

 for several reasons. Since the department will be organized by regions, as many activi- 

 ties as possible should be assigned to the regions to take full advantage of what this 

 form of organization offers. By having marine wardens and land wardens under the 

 control of the same regional manager, more flexibility will be obtained in the shifting 

 of personnel during periods of increased hunting and fishing. Wardens will obtain 

 broader experience, which will increase their usefulness to the State and also enhance 

 their chances for promotion. Moreover, the recommended plan will bring land and 

 marine patrol groups closer together, and result in a more integrated patrol force. If 

 marine patrol were handled on a state-wide basis a wide cleavage might develop between 

 marine and land patrol employees, which would have a detrimental effect on the depart- 

 ment's work. 



Therefore, this report proposes that the regions along the coast assume responsibility 

 for actual operation of the marine patrol. There probably will be three such regions — 

 the southern, headquartered in Los Angeles, the coastal, headquartered in San Fran- 

 cisco, and the northern, headquartered in Redding. If this assumption proves correct, 

 it is probable that in the southern region, where marine patrol activity is heaviest, 

 there will be two supervising wildlife protection officers (now assistant chiefs, patrol), 

 one in charge of land law enforcement and the other in charge of marine law enforce- 

 ment. 



It is suggested for the coastal region, headquartered in San Francisco, that reporting 

 to the supervising wildlife protection officer, there should be both land and marine cap- 

 tains stationed at strategic points to direct the activities of marine law enforcement 

 personnel and boats. 



