FORTY-THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT 



11 



mackerel and jack mackerel as a fundamental resource 

 management tool. Its program along this line failed to 

 materialize by July, 1954. Public knowledge of the 

 condition of these resources increased materially dur- 

 ing this period and interest in protecting and maintain- 

 ing the species intensified. 



At the same time members of the commission stood 

 firm on important policies designed to protect the 

 ocean fishery offshore. Its policy on oyster bed allot- 

 ments was strengthened, as was the regulation on 

 control of oyster pests in imports. 



It denied permits for reduction of ocean fish as a 

 conservation measure, although permits for reductions 

 of specified ocean trash fish were granted. 



Continued scrutiny and strengthening of regulations 

 concerning offshore blasting in seismic explorations 

 were carried on during the biennium. 



In the implementation of its deer management pol- 

 icy, adopted the previous biennium, the commission 

 laid down rules and regulations for special deer hunts, 

 and decreed that various groups or individuals asking 

 for such special hunts prepare supporting evidence to 

 back their requests at public hearings. 



As a result of a ruling by the Attorney General, the 

 commission abandoned its former policy concerning 

 planting of state-raised trout in certain private waters 

 of the State. Previously the commission had required 

 that owners of such private waters open at least a third 

 of their shore line to public fishing after state fish were 

 planted, but the opinion held that the commission was 

 without authority to impose this requirement. 



Two new members of the commission were ap- 

 pointed during the biennium, including Harley E. 

 Knox, former Mayor of San Diego, succeeding Han-ey 

 E. Hastain of Brawley, and Weldon L. Oxley, insur- 

 ance executive of Redding, succeeding Paul Denny of 

 Etna. William J. Silva of /Modesto served as chairman 

 during 1953 and 1954. Other members of the commis- 

 sion at the biennium's conclusion were Carle F. Wente 

 of San Francisco and Lee F. Payne of Los Angeles. 



Conservation Education 



An important step in strengthening wildlife conser- 

 vation in California during the biennium was the coor- 

 dination and realignment of the department's entire 

 conservation education program. 



It is based on the concept that ignorance and greed 

 are the two major enemies of wildlife, and an informed 

 public is the surest weapon with which to defeat these 

 twin enemies. 



The new conservation education program of the 

 Department of Fish and Game is designed to make 

 available comprehensive information on California's 

 wildlife resources to as many people as possible, 

 through funds provided by the users of the resource 

 themselves. Although these funds come from hunting 

 and angling license holders and from commercial fish- 



SKY-SCHAPERS WAST€ I 



BIRDS AND AMMmirmI 



SO YARDS- 

 /< VP BE YON P 

 VOUR SHOT IS 

 20% EFFECTIVE 



OR. Less 



30 YARDS.. 

 YOUk SHOT IS 

 100« EFFECTIVE- 



12 GA 

 »5 SHOT 



TUU CHOKe 



40 YARDS- 

 YOUR SHOT IS 

 80* EFFECT I VE- 



SKY- SCRAPERS 



WOUND ANP DESTROY 

 MORE Birds than 



HUNTERS TAKE HOME 



WE A 



&$eRAPff? 



/ 



Educational posters tike ft^is one help prevent wasteful long range 

 shooting of waterfowl. This sign is posted at all public shooting areas. 



ermen, the wildlife resource belongs to all of the peo- 

 ple of California and the conservation education pro- 

 gram is designed to reach all of them. 



The conservation education section was planned as 

 an important segment of the reorganization plan com- 

 pleted near the close of the last biennium, although the 

 section did not actually come into full operation until 

 earl\- in 1953 when Robert D. Calkins, iModesto ne\\s- 

 paperman, was appointed as first conservation educa- 

 tion director. 



Conservation Education Activities 



Activities of the section included dissemination of 

 information concerning general status and condition of 

 California wildlife, notices of open seasons, regulations, 

 conservation measures, and policies of the Fish and 

 Game Commission and the department. This was ac- 

 complished through releases, to newspapers, radio 

 stations and television stations, distribution of the 



