Work of State Game Warden 15 



There has been, and is, a prejudice against this Department of 

 the State Government. Many men believe that they ought to have 

 the right to kill wild animals or birds at any time, and in any way 

 that they desire to do so; many men believe that the Game and Fish 

 laws should be enforced against all the other people in the State, 

 but not against themselves, while others believe that no laws should 

 be enforced, and especially a law that would prohibit them from 

 throwing a stick of dynamite in a creek, pond or river, and destroy- 

 ing millions of fish, just because they want to. 



There are a great many men in the State, good citizens, men who 

 would love to see the laws enforced, but who are afraid to make 

 complaint, because they believe that the men who will wantonly 

 destroy the birds and the fish and the forests, would not hesitate to 

 destroy houses and stock — lives. They are, therefore, afraid to 

 report violations of the Game, Fish and Forestry laws, and it is im- 

 possible for the State Game Warden and the special wardens to 

 enforce the law, unless the violations are reported to the department, 

 and men are willing to become witnesses against the otTenders. 



It is necessary, also, for the State Game Warden to overcome a 

 prejudice against the department, caused by the peculiar organiza- 

 tion of the department. Many men who violate the law, go to the 

 civil officers and protest against any punishment, or the assessment 

 of any fines against them, because the fines are paid into the depart- 

 ment, and many of the civil officers absolutely refuse to have any- 

 thing to do with the enforcement of the Game, Fish and Forestry 

 laws. 



In some parts of the State, these laws are very unpopular, and 

 the civil officers refuse to help prosecute the violations of the law. 

 However, their refusal is not wholly the fault of the officers, be- 

 cause heretofore, the department has not asked, and therefore, has 

 not secured, the support of these officers. 



It seems to me, therefore, that one of the greatest works for the 

 State Game Warden is to secure the active and hearty co-operation of 

 all the civil officers of this State. Every sheriff in this State ought to 

 be ex-officio a Game Warden for his county, and every deputy sheriff 

 ought to be ex-officio a deputy game warden. Every constable ought 

 to be a special warden for his district, and the sheriff^s and their 

 deputies and the constables should be given to understand that it is 

 as much their duty to see that offenders against these laws are pun- 

 ished as the offenders against other laws. 



