124 Second Annual Report of the 



died by the regular protectors without legal assistance. In a 

 great many instances where a violator has been successfully prose- 

 cuted by a special protector, a large part of the work has been 

 done by a regular, for which the regular protector receives no 

 credit, and half of the recovery is paid to the special as his 

 moiety. Therefore I believe if it is deemed wise to continue the 

 special protectors, that they should be required to pass a non- 

 competitive Civil Service examination. In that way more com- 

 petent men would be secured. 



The average of gross recovery and costs in each case is very 

 commendable, in view of the fact that all persons prosecuted 

 were not fined. The majority were, but many received suspended 

 sentences on pleas of guilty ; others were acquitted from John Doe 

 proceedings, and thirty-six persons were sent to jail for a col- 

 lective period of 1,688 days. 



On April 15, 1912, the Conservation Law was signed by the 

 Governor, and in a majority of cases has proven very satisfactory. 

 In the work of endeavoring to amend the bill so as to meet the 

 approval of the Legislature, changes which should have been made 

 were overlooked. The changes which in my opinion should now 

 be made relate more to the form than to the substance of the law. 

 The repeated changing of the law works no good, but can only 

 create confusion and work dissension in the ranks of the sports- 

 men or others interested. It is as impossible to obtain a perfect 

 fish and game law in the sense that it would please everybody, 

 as it is to turn night into day. At a great expense the State has 

 secured a nearly uniform law for the protection of fish and game, 

 and with a very few changes it will be as simple and easy of 

 construction as any which can be made. Having in mind that 

 the present law is drawn on the permissive plan, you will readily 

 see that any considerable number of changes made therein is apt 

 to throw the whole law out of balance, and create conflicting and 

 inconsistent provisions, making it impossible to recover for vio- 

 lations thereof. Each and every provision of this law was drawn 

 advisedly, and each has its particular friends. Change any pro- 

 vision to suit any particular person or number of persons, and 

 you have antagonized those who believe that the present provi- 

 sions are satisfactory and sufficient. 



