10 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



of the same delegation of authoiity and fixed responsi- 

 bility for results. Especialix" important is the bringing 

 of that delegated authorit\- close enough to those who 

 are served, to resolve on the local level many of the 

 frictions and niisundcrstandings which cause grief and 

 loss of efficiencN", particularly in the field of wildlife 

 conservation. 



Drain on Reserve Decreases 



.■\ major concern during the biennial period was the 

 problem of bringing expenditures in balance with reve- 

 nue. Marked progress was made in this direction. 



.\n overdraft of S.HO.OOO for the Fiscal Year 1951-52 

 was made on the Fish and Game Preservation Fund 

 reserve of 56,124,499 which had been accumulated 

 during war \ears. The overdraft occurred before re- 

 organization was undertaken and generally resulted 

 from expansion of maintenance, operation and service 

 activities outlined as essential to preservation, protec- 

 tion and restoration of California wildlife resources 

 b\' tiic Wildlife Conservation Board in its report of 

 .May, 1950. 



Through the 1952-54 Biennium during which reor- 

 ganization and decentralization took place, increases 

 in maintenance, operation and service expenditures 

 continued with the opening of more new hatcheries, 

 new \\aterfowl management areas, increase in cooper- 

 ative hunting acreage management, hunter safety pro- 

 gram and other similar activities. Such increased ex- 

 penditures were kept at a practical minimum and the 

 reorganized department was able to absorb much of 

 these activities with exi.sting personnel. Improved effi- 

 ciency of operation also was credited with helping to 

 reduce the overdraft of 5260,648 recorded at the end 

 of the 195.^ Fi.scal Year and the further reduction of 

 the overdraft to 5152,66.^ at the end of the 1954 Fiscal 

 ^'ear. 



This closing of the gap between expenditures and 

 revenue was accomplished during a period of rising 

 revenue, true, but the increased number of dollars re- 

 ceived was more than offset by the loss in value of 

 those dollars resulting from inflation. 



Whether providing new services and absorption of 

 new operations by the existing organization had 

 reached its limit, and whether the point of maximum 

 efficiency under the reorganization plan had been 

 reached during the biennium could not be definitely 

 established. 



Fish and Game Commission 



Importance of the five-member Fish and Game 

 Commission as a policy-making body, and in providing 

 strong leadership in the State's conservation program, 

 was highlighted during the biennium by numerous 

 decisions which are having far-reaching effects in both 

 conservation and in providing better hunting and an- 

 gling opportunities for millions of Californians. 



Probably the most important of these was the pro- 

 mulgation of a new system of advance registration and 

 granting of reservations to hunt on state-controlled 

 waterfowl management areas. This matter was studied 

 thoroughly by the commission, and later became estab- 

 lished policy and was placed in effect for the 1954 

 waterfowl season. Believing that the unattached hunter 

 should have an opportunity for advance reservation of 

 hunting dates, the plan was studied from every angle, 

 and presented to various interested organizations for 

 review. Granting of reservations was to be made by 

 lot, with any vacancies to be filled on a first come, 

 first served basis. 



Regulations governing cooperative hunting areas 

 were streamlined to assume more efficient manage- 

 ment, and to add areas which formerly could not 

 qualify for lack of size. 



Sweeping amendments were made in existing pheas- 

 ant policies and new^ ones inaugurated to improve 

 hunting, and at the same rime to effect economies in 

 pheasant planting. 



The commission set up a priority system for plant- 

 ing of birds raised on Department of Fish and Game 

 bird farms, with top priority on the basis of access by 

 the general public. A policy of providing as many 

 shootable birds without expansion of the game farms 

 was adopted. 



Fighting for Existence 



Recognizing that several species of important com- 

 mercial ocean fish are literally fighting for their exist- 

 ence in the face of heavy pressure, the commission 

 continued to press for a legislative program for author- 

 ity to control the catch of sardines, anchovies, Pacific 



An advance registration system for waterfowl hunting areas was set up 



by tfie Fish and Game Commission to eliminate long waiting lines like 

 this one at Colusa Refuge. 



