24 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



checking suspicious nets in fhe Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is part of 

 the warden's daily routine. 



Heavy woric pressure is on the warden staff during the opening week- 

 ends of seasons like deer, pheasants, trout and waterfowl. Here deer 

 tags are checked in the high Sierra. 



marine wardens devoted increasing time to the grow- 

 ing sports fishery as well as to the commercial in- 

 dustry. 



Causes for arrests during the biennium ranged from 

 failure to hold a sports angler's license to illegal nets 

 on a purse seiner, boarded at sea under cover of dark- 

 ness. Checking of commercial landings and cannery 

 packs was another important additional duty. Collec- 

 tion of marine fishery statistics also was carried out by 

 marine wardens during the biennium, assisting in gath- 

 ering knowledge necessary for intelligent management 

 of the ocean fishery. 



TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT 



An increase of radio communications equipment to 

 296 units during the biennium has added greatly to 

 the patrol efficiency of Wildlife Protection. It has en- 

 abled supervisors to contact and direct wardens in the 

 field, wardens to communicate with each other and 

 their headquarters, and patrol airplanes, boats and 

 vehicles to work together as a team. 



At the close of the two-year period covered in the 

 report, there were 207 mobile radio units installed in 

 patrol cars, boats and airplanes. There were 52 Handie- 

 talkie units used b\' \\ardens while on foot, in small 

 boats or on undercover work where larger mobile 

 units would be impractical. Three portable land sta- 

 tions were available for temporary stations on special 

 hunts, cooperative areas and rush periods. These are 

 effective and practical because of small size and ease 

 of transport and installation. One portable mobile relay 

 station, equipped with its own po\\'er supply, wzs 

 available for use in strategic areas where communica- 

 tions are needed for a limited period only. For location 

 of the 22 permanent land stations, see Table 7, Ap- 

 pendix. 



OTHER ACTIVITIES 



During the biennium more than 119,000 was de- 

 posited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund as a 

 result of sale of equipment used in illegally taking fish 

 and game. Sales by sealed bid were held in the various 

 regional offices. 



A total of 643 items, including guns, tackle, nets, 

 spears, and other sports and commercial gear, was 

 auctioned for 1 19,206, \\-ith sales being held at all five 

 regional headquarters in Redding, Sacramento, San 

 Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles. Most illegal items 

 were sold at the Los Angeles office of the department. 



Added investigative work by wardens resulted from 

 1953 lcgislati\e action relating to hunter casualties. 

 These changes provided for permanent revocation of 

 a hunter's license for killing or wounding a human 

 being, and a five-year revocation in cases involving 

 domestic animals. Wardens investigated these cases and 

 made reports transmitted to count\' district attorneys 

 for action. 



