10 



direct compensation for the work, and a disappointment resulted as 

 soon as the nature of the work and the fact that they would have to 

 depend upon such fees as were obtained from convictions as remun- 

 eration for that work became known. These fees constitute their 

 sole compensation, except in cases where they are given special work 

 to do by the commissioners. The whole system is wronj^ and should 

 be changed. We have a large number of wardens in the State, and 

 a glance over our reports from wardens will show that but little inter- 

 est has been taken in the enforcement of the law. Few men care to 

 risk the enmity of their neighbors by giving information, and fewer 

 care to appear in the role of a prosecutor. In some of the river dis- 

 tricts fear of retaliation on the part of the fishermen deters prosecu- 

 tion. Then again, where men are found who will vigorously prosecute 

 offenders, they too often meet with great difficulty in obtaining con- 

 victions, and consequently have their labor for their pains. Even 

 when convictions are obtained, it too often happens that the half of 

 fine which should go to the warden is retained by the State's attor- 

 ney as payment for fees, which seems all proper enough so far as the 

 law governing the State's attorney's office is concerned. It is an un- 

 pleasant and thankless task, at best, to undertake to enforce the fish 

 laws under these circumstances. 



The sentiment in favor of the enforcement of the laws is growing, 

 but not fast enough. The neglect of a proper enforcement is usually 

 attributed to the commissioners by parties who do not take the con- 

 ditions into consideration. This State is almost an empire in extent, 

 so great in length and of such diversity of conditions that new com- 

 plications in the enforcement of the law arise continually. To give 

 proper personal attention to each individual case would be impossi- 

 ble; first, because it would be a physical impossibility to attend per- 

 sonally to all, and next because the board, serving without compensa- 

 tion, could not afford to devote all their time to this work, so we are 

 compelled to depend upon wardens or persons interested to give these 

 matters attention, and for the reasons given this has not always been 

 successful or satisfactory in the results obtained. The interest is 

 great enough to warrant a remedy, and we think it can be done by 

 dividing the State into five or ten districts, appointing a good man 

 for the work and paying him for it, not depending upon fines ob- 

 tained, but making the fines payable to the Secretary of State, to be 

 applied to a fund to pay wardens, and make the payment of such fines 

 obligatory on the part of the courts to the Secretary of State, that is, 

 such part of it as should go to the complainant. By this method the 

 commissioners would be relieved of a cumbersome piece of machin- 

 ery, and work would be done that would result in a saving of many 

 thousands of pounds of good food, and it would also do away with the 

 alleged "blood money prosecutions" occasionally complained of. 



We give herewith extract from the law creating wardens and their 

 duties, compensation, etc. 



Sec. 4. — Appointment and Duty of Wardens.] The Governor, on request of 

 the fish commissioners, shall appoint fish wardens, who shall enforce all laws 

 relating to fishes, arrest all violators thereof, prosecute all offenses against 

 same. They shall have power to serve processes against such offenders and 



