1910] FOREST, GAME A;J.> FISH WARDS.N. 47 



may hope to get by so doing, is only a small number compared to the 

 great number that are killed by the explosion. This practice, in the 

 past, has clone more permanent damage to our fish industry, than all 

 other violations combined. 



A few complaints have been made, as to suspicion of unlawful dyna- 

 miting, and considerable time was spent in trying to obtain sufficient 

 evidence to make prosecutions, but these offenses being usually com- 

 mitted during the night time, and by a class of parties that will resort 

 to almost anything for the purpose of evading the law, has made it 

 \ery difficult to secure a conviction. 



[With a sufficient appropriation that would provide for special deputy 

 service, to make careful and proper investigations in such matters, this 

 crime can be broken up altogether. 



Work of Office. 



Fully realizing that the old saying, that "self praise is half scandal" 

 to be true, it would not be deemed proper to discuss at length, the routine 

 duties of our office work, nor the many perplexing questions arising 

 under the enactment of a law of this character, were it not for the 

 fact that we fully realize that the character and volume of work cannot 

 be appreciated, except by those who are thoroughly familiar with similar 

 departments. 



A system of book- keeping has been inaugurated, whereby every detail 

 and transaction of the office will be preserved, so that in the future, 

 intelligent comparisons can be made, and thus ascertain what legislation 

 will be beneficial and work necessary in conducting this department. 



The preparation and distribution of the various kinds of blanks, nec- 

 essary for making the different reports, claimed considerable time, care 

 and attention The great number of deputies, appointive and ex-officio, 

 justices of the peace, Clerks of the County and Circuit Courts, and other 

 county and State officials, from whom we receive reports and communi- 

 cations, makes the clerical work in office, of greater magnitude than 

 could be imagined by anyone not thoroughly informed as to these details. 



Besides keeping in touch with at least two thousand officials, wherein 

 financial matters a'ncl reports come in question, the various correspond- 

 ence, relating to every conceivable subject, at many times, has reached 

 such proportion?, as to be scarcely believable by those not familiar with 

 the many conflicting opinions arising from the enactment of a statute 

 of this character. 



Tt is not unfrequent to receive from 100 to 200 letters a day, covering 

 every question that could be dreamed of from a request for a copy 

 of the Forest, Gam^ and Fish laws, to a demand for an official opinion 

 on various sections of the statute, over which, disputes among neighbors 

 would naturally arise, or perhaps an imperative demand that some one 

 be dispatched immediately to a distant seeticfn of the State, for the 

 purpose of closing down a number of coal operations or industrial plants- 

 that were polluting some stream and killing the fish. 



