1910] FOREST, GAME AND FISH WARDEN. 25 



A FEW THINGS ACCOMPLISHED. 



The most noticeable improvement in game and fish conditions is the favorable 

 sentiment of the masses, and the general belief that a game law should be 

 obeyed and observed just the same as any other law. Where you found one 

 true sportsman ten years ago, today you find a dozen. It is a well settled fact 

 that no law can be enforced, or made a success, without moral support and a 

 generous public sentiment in its favor. This support and sentiment has im- 

 proved much in the past few years. 



The dynamiting of streams, which was once regarded as a legal way of catchr 

 ing fish, is now looked upon as a crime second only to murder, and a man who 

 would engage in a crime so heinous would now be barred from decent society 

 and the association of sportsmen and fishermen. A few parties have been con- 

 victed and sent to the penitentiary for this violation, and this has had a salutary 

 effect in preventing further violations. 



The prohibition of the sale of game and the shipping of same from the 

 state has done more to protect it than any other provision of the law. Much 

 care and attention has been given to the enforcement of this statute and it has 

 been violated in very few instances. 



The polution of streams and the ways and means to eradicate same, has 

 required more attention than any other subject, but conditions in many places 

 have been greatly improved. The subject of polution is discussed at length 

 in another part of this report. 



The increase of deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse and bob- whites 

 has been very noticable throughout the whole state, although a great number 

 of bob- whites were destroyed during the severe weather and deep snows of the 

 winter of 1911. 



Much direct good has been done by an organized effort to prevent and con- 

 trol forest fires, and enough money has been saved in the forest products of 

 the state in the past four years to pay all expenses of running the State Govern- 

 ment for the last sixteen years. A complete and itemized report is given else- 

 where, relative to forest fires and the amount of property saved by preventing 

 and controlling same. 



The West Virginia Fish and Game Protective Assocition, which was organ- 

 ized on November 14th, 1906, has already done much to help educate the 

 masses to a better appreciation of our fish and game laws. This organization 

 has, within the past year, added more than two hundred new members, and in 

 the near future will endeavor to form a local organization in every county In 

 the State. 



The West Virginia Audubon Society, with headquarters at Parkersburg, was 

 organized in the month of October, 1911, and has already done much along the 

 line of bird study and protection. Some of the most enthusiastic bird lovers 

 and protectionists to be found in 'the whole state are at the head of this organ- 

 ization and its success is assured. It is the intention of the society to carry 

 the work of bird study into every school house in the state, and instill into the 

 lives of our school children the great good to be accomplished by taking care 

 of our birds. 



The stocking of streams has been given all the attention possible, and the 



