FISHERIES, GAME AND FORES! 3. 



Accoani of Pines and Penalties. 



By the provisions of Chapter 488, Laws of 1892, as amended by Chapter 395, 

 Laws of 1895, tne proceeds of all fines and penalties recovered since May 5 th, 1892, for 

 the violation of the Game Laws have been, or should have been, paid to the Commis- 

 sion, to be by them applied to the payment of moieties to complainants, costs of court, 

 and general expenses of actions and proceedings in the prosecution of cases for viola- 

 tion of the Game Laws. It also provides that such payments are only to be made 

 upon the certificate of the Chief Protector, which must show the amount due and pay- 

 able to the claimant from the said fund. 



This account and claims arising under the same have caused this Commission 

 much trouble. The claims were mostly small, but very numerous, scattered through- 

 out the State, and in many cases had been due the claimants from one to three years, 

 they having been given to understand that there were no funds available, or payment 

 deferred from some other reason. Many who had turned in money, to a moiety of 

 which they were specifically entitled, were especially urgent for their share of the 

 same. But as we found no books of account, vouchers, or sufficient data to enable us 

 to settle their claims, and no funds with which to liquidate the same, they were 

 necessarily still further delayed. 



Protectors' reports indicated very many fines imposed, but no system of accounts 

 for the receipt or disbursement of the fund seemed to exist whereby we could deter- 

 mine whether the fines had been actually paid and recovered by the Commission, or 

 whether the parties entitled to compensation therefrom had been paid. 



By resolution of this Board dated June 7th, 1895, this account and the funds belong- 

 ing thereto were ordered turned over to the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and 

 June 9th, 1895, he received from the old Commission, through its late Secretary, $626.59 

 and a book apparently transcribed from some other book or account going back to 

 October 1st, 1894. The $626.59 was the balance which we were informed was due. 

 The discrepancies discovered and numerous old claims presented for payment com- 

 pelled us to take steps to obtain possession of the books and vouchers of our predeces- 

 sors which would enable us to make a fair and business-like settlement of the same, 

 and on September 4th the following resolution was adopted : 



Regular Meeting, September 4th, 1895. 



Commissioner Lyman, Chairman of the Executive Committee, offered the follow- 

 ing, which upon a yea and nay vote was adopted : 



