FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT [W. VA. 



the money received from the license, may be wisely used for any of the 

 subjects so closely connected tinder this law. Ir. i:i certainlv better to 

 make a department of this character self-sustaining, by collecting sufficient 

 revenue direct from the people who derive the pleasure and benefits there- 

 from, rather than by taxing all persons in general, and appropriating from 

 the general fund in the State Treasury, to carry on this work. 



While the amount of money raised by the sale of license, which consti- 

 tutes the Forest, Game and Fish Protective fund, amounting to the sum 

 o f $40,209.00, on the 30th day of November, of the present year, might 

 seem to be more than would be needed to carry on this work, yet many 

 states are raising from five to tfjn times more than this amount, every 

 two years, and are using it all in building up the game and fish indus- 

 try, that is becoming the most valuable asset that they have. 



All this revenue can well be spent in strengthening our warden ser- 

 vice, protecting our forests, re-stocking our streams with fish, propa- 

 gating and increasing our game and birds, and in many ways that will 

 be beneficial. 



Warden Service. 



A game department, without efficient and adequate warden service, 

 cannot be as successful as it should be. Game {Warden should be made 

 a profession, not merely a "job". The subjects embraced under the 

 laws in West Virginia, including that of Forests, Game and Fish, are so 

 varied and manifold that it requires the best energies and broadest! 

 knowledge that can be possibly put into it. 



With the whole department, composed of but three salaried officers, 

 and the office work alone requiring more time and attention than can 

 be given it by this number of men, it has been impossible to give as, 

 much time to field work as should have been done, and at the samo 

 time keep up the office work. The office should be supplied with suffi- 

 cient clerical help, so that at least two of the salaried wardens can 

 spend all of their time in field work, and thus, in a measure at least, 

 keep in touch with conditions throughout the whole State. In many 

 states, the warden service on salary, number more than one hun- 

 dred, some states having established a civil service requiring all ap- 

 plicants to pass a civil service examination to be eligible to appoint- 

 ment. 



Whether the revenue raised in the short time our license system has 

 been in vogue, will justify an increase in our salaried deputies, must 

 be left to the good judgment of our Legislature, but I would most 

 earnestly urge that sufficient funds be appropriated from the revenue 

 raised by the sale of licenses to pay the per diem, at a reasonable rate, 

 of special deputies, during the dry seasons of the yea/r, so that omn for- 

 ests may be protected from fife, and for special service when needed, 

 to protect our game and fish. 



While many deputies throughout the State, both appointed and 



