1 8 THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



there are always many more violations of the law than the Department is 

 able to discover and prosecute. The greater the activity of the Depart- 

 ment under given conditions, the greater number of offenses are discovered, 

 and on the other hand the greater the activity of the Department the less 

 offenses are committed. 



It should be observed that the total amount collected and reported 

 this year, to wit, $52,264.77, is made up much more largely from fines and 

 penalties for violations of the Fish and Game Law, and much less from 

 moneys received for trespass on State lands than heretofore. The total 

 amount reported and collected for the year 1906 had in it the various large 

 sums collected for timber trespassing. This fact demonstrates two things: 

 First, that there has been no trespassing this year of consequence on State 

 land, and second, that the Protectors have been much more active in 

 hunting out and detecting offenses against the law and in successfully 

 prosecuting the same. 



Trespasses discovered on State land in 1906 were 160 in all — very many 

 of which were small trespasses and many of them old trespasses — only 

 49 new ones having been reported for that year. This, as compared with 

 former years, shows a larger number discovered and reported, which indi- 

 cates a much greater vigilance on the part of the Protectors and Fire 

 Wardens. As stated in the last report there were very few willful trespasses 

 in 1906. This year there have been only 45 trespasses on State land in the 

 entire sixteen counties. No timber trespass of consequence has been made. 

 Of these only three were more than a few trees for firewood, which indicates 

 a very good condition of the observance of the law in relation to trespass- 

 ing upon the State Forest Preserve, and shows a better condition than has 

 heretofore existed so far as the Department is advised. During the present 

 year there were, of those left over from last year and new ones, 1,289 cases 

 of violations of law of all kinds, of which 186 were placed in the hands of 

 attorneys and disposed of; 690 were handled by this Department direct. 

 Of the 1,289 cases, 876 have been disposed of, leaving undisposed of at the 

 present time 413. Ten actions for trespass are on appeal; 128 at issue in 

 courts of record and 158 actions are to be brought. There were 37 acquit- 

 tals, 1 disagreement and 14 cases dicontinued for want of evidence. 



