Report of tf)e Cfyef Protector. 



To tt>e Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests : 



GENTLEMEN : — I have the honor to submit the following report of the work of the 

 Protectors and Foresters during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1898 : 



The following devices, which were being illegally used for catching fish, have been 

 captured and destroyed : 



Seines, 

 Fyke nets, 

 Trap nets, 

 Gill nets, 

 Squat nets, 

 Pound nets, 

 Dip nets, 

 Tip ups, 

 Spears, 

 Set lines, 



Valued at 



Total number of devices destroyed, 



56 

 971 

 320 



584 



221 



2 



17 



65 



13 



457 



2,706 



$29.5J5 



Three hundred and sixty-nine persons were prosecuted during the year for 

 violating the Fisheries, Game and Forest Laws. Of this number 335 were convicted, 

 thirty discharged, and four held to grand jury. The total amount of fines, penalties 

 and costs imposed by the courts in these cases was $10,827.49, OI which $8,480.94 

 has been collected by the Department and deposited in accordance with law, and an 

 aggregate penalty of 735 days' imprisonment has been imposed. 



I think this is an excellent showing, and I confidently assert that all statements, 

 from whatever source they proceed, that the Fisheries, Game and Forest Laws are 

 everywhere disregarded and violated, are reckless statements of persons who have no 

 knowledge of the subject. Doubtless, violations have occurred which have not come 

 to the knowledge of the Department. This is inevitable, owing to the fact that it is 

 impossible to cover the whole State with the limited number of Protectors that are 

 allowed by law. But it is certain that the number of these cases is not so great as 

 some would make it appear. Several reports of violations of the Deer Hounding "Law 

 have reached me, every one of which has been carefully investigated and found to be 

 based upon evidence so flimsy as to discredit the report. 



