112 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



In some localities of the State there is a manifest unfriendliness to the laws for the 

 protection of fish and game, so much so that it is impossible to secure convictions in 

 the local courts. In several cases an acquittal or a disagreement of the jury has 

 resulted from the plea of the defendant's counsel that the Protector or the complainant 

 was out for "blood money," meaning his share of the fine if conviction is had. 



In one of the courts in Greater New York a person arraigned under section 78 of 

 the Fisheries, Game and Forest Law for shooting song birds was discharged on the 

 ground that section 1493 of the charter of that city supercedes the Fisheries, Game 

 and Forest Laws. For the same reason moneys collected as fines for violations of the 

 Fisheries, Game and Forest Laws has been turned over to the City Comptroller instead 

 of to this Department. 



This will necessitate a civil action to obtain an opinion of the higher court as to 

 the true meaning of the law. 



Respectfully submitted. 



J. W. POND, 



Chief Protector. 



AN EXPERT. 



