ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



CHIEF GAME PROTECTOR, 



Hon. Thomas H. Guy, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Fish 

 and Game: 



Sir. — I respectfully submit herewith my report on the enforce- 

 ment of the Conservation Law relating to fish and game of the 

 State of New York, for the year ending September 30, 1912, 

 covering the work performed by the protectors in the bringing 

 of actions, together with the amount of recoveries of fines and 

 penalties, and prison sentences, for violations of the Conservation 

 Law. The statistical table which follows shows a substantial in- 

 crease in the number of cases successfully prosecuted. The 

 regular protectors prosecuted this last fiscal year more cases than 

 during the preceding year, having a gain of 213 cases. The in- 

 crease over the fiscal year of 1911 shows that the regular pro- 

 tectors have given strict attention to their duties, and their work 

 as a whole is satisfactory. 



This cannot be said of the special protectors, as there are a 

 great many specials who do little or no work in the enforcement 

 of the Conservation Law relating to fish and game, and some of 

 the few who are active are a discredit to the work of the depart- 

 ment. I think this is largely owing to the fact that the law does 

 not require a special game protector to pass a Civil Service exami- 

 nation on questions pertaining to the conservation law in relation 

 to fish and game. Therefore they have very little, if any, knowl- 

 edge of the law, and when prosecuting a violator it is necessary 

 for them to have the assistance of counsel. This entails upon 

 the Department a large expense, which is not the case where a 

 regular protector prosecutes violators; for the record will bear 

 me out in the statement that a large percentage of cases are han- 



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