9 



have a lien on all tines collected up to a certain limit, althoua^h our 

 statute covering such collections makes it obligatory on all justices of 

 the peace to turn over the tines to the State Treasurer. The fines 

 collected from all sources and now in the hands of the State Treas- 

 urer fall short of |50().00. If these tines could be utilized as intended 

 by the law, as we understand it at least, as was the intent when it 

 was enacted, we think we should have money enough to employ 

 several additional wardens. So far we have found no means of com- 

 pelling the remittance of tines to the State Treasurer in accordance 

 with the law, except in a few instances, as stated. 



We do not wish to be iinderstood as finding too much fault, as 

 results show improvement in conditions in many respects. A com- 

 parison of the extent of the violations of law for the iDast two 

 seasons shows a very marked decrease over the record of former 

 seasons, and a corresponding increase in the enforcement of the law, 

 but even with noted improvement, there is still room for more. 



We have had considerable trouble with express companies and 

 common carriers, as they will accept packages of fish that are not 

 properly labeled. The effect has been to allow dealers to ship game 

 fish, illegal to catch, in unlabeled packages, and such violations are 

 only provable when such fish are found in the hands of a dealer, and 

 the shippers are comparatively seciire, because evidence against them 

 sufficient to convict them can not be obtained. 



All manner of schemes are used, of course, to evade the provisions 

 of the law, and with our limited force, many of them are successful, 

 but we are glad to note that we are gradually obtaining the assistance 

 of the transportation companies in the matter. The express com- 

 panies have nearly all issued such notices to their agents as will 

 insure a better compliance with the provisions of law in regard to the 

 shipment of unlabeled fish. 



Kepoet of President Cohen, in Chaege op Enpoecement of Law. 



Fish food being as essential to mankind as any other animal food, 

 a strict enforcement of the law for the protection and perpetuation of 

 fish is of vital importance both to present and future generations. 

 As population increases, the demand becomes greater. The constant 

 drain on the waters increases year by year. Commercial fishermen 

 and sportsmen have made sad havoc in this State in some of the 

 beautiful lakes and streams which nature has provided so bountifully 

 with game fishes and the coarse varieties of food fishes. To secure a 

 complete restoration of the former conditions in our lakes and rivers, 

 a rigid enforcement of the law is absolutely essential. Considering a 

 river frontage of 1500 miles, together with the numerous lakes and 

 ponds that require protection, our warden service is inadequate. The 

 statutes provide for only five wardens. Because of the great area of 

 water requiring cjonstant attention, we are unable to cope with the 

 situation, with the limited means provided by law, and would recom- 

 mend that the General Assembly amend the law by appropriating a 

 sufficient sum to increase the number of wardens, so as to give the 

 entire State ample protection. 



