The restriction in the taking of black baes to the hook and line 

 only has proved a popular law with the anglers, and will do much to 

 promote the increase of theie desirable game fish. While the law is 

 not so rigidly enforced as it should be yet it is more satisfactory than 

 we expected. Bass are always marketable, and when found in the 

 hands of dealers and of proper size it is not easy to prove how they 

 have been caught, and for that reason they are handled more gener- 

 ally than they should be. We purpose giving this clause of the law 

 closer attention next season, and perhaps a few merited convictions 

 may make this practice appear too risky even for the more adventur- 

 ous. 



The prohibiting of fishing with any device during the closing sea- 

 son within 400 feet of a ay dam has met with vigorous opposition 

 from some thoughtless anglers, but we consider its enactment one of 

 the most humane protective features of our fish laws, and one which 

 should strongly appeal to every one interested in the increase of 

 game fish. To take them bj' the hundreds at the foot of a dam while 

 the fish are using every effort to get above the dam to their spawn- 

 ing beds, is not only barbarous but wantonly destructive, for every 

 female fish so taken means the loss of all the increase which would 

 have resulted had she been allowed to spawn. 



In reviewing the results of the past two seasons we feel that more 

 and better work has been accomplished than for any like period 

 since the organization of the Commission. 



The relation of the Commission to the fish business as an industry 

 and to the angler as well, is better understood, and the possibility of 

 protecting and advancing the commercial interests without detriment 

 to the rights of the angler is admitted. 



Not that no fault has been found with your Commissioners, for we 

 have had criticism and plenty of it. Personal attention to all the 

 details of the work cannot be given by the Commissioners Presi- 

 dent Cohen has given his time liberally to the work and has been 

 untiring in his efforts to clear up every obstacle as fast as presented, 

 but there is a limit to the time he can give. Serving, as the Com- 

 missioners do, without salary or compensation in any form, his only 

 reason for this work is the interest he feels in the preservation and 

 protection of the fish of the State, and it is hardly to be expected 

 that he could, or should, give his personal attention to each of the 

 thousands of complaints that reach his office, and for such work he 

 must depend largely upon the wardens. All this is not taken into 

 consideration by those interested in prosecutions throughout the 

 State, and blame is frequently attached to the Commissioners for 

 neglect of minor details that should be attended to by those locally 

 interested. 



On the whole, however, we have nothing of which to complain, for 

 we have been well treated and met more than half way by the fisher- 

 men, the dealers, the transportation companies and the public, and 

 we believe those who have made complaints need only a better 

 knowledge of the intricate work assigned us to forgive and forget 

 any seeming neglect on our part. 



