Report of ti)e Cfytef Game Protector. 



To tl)e Commissioners of Fisheries, Crame and Forests: 



GENTLEMEN : — The work of the Protectors and Foresters during the year has 

 been, for the most part, satisfactory. The number of prosecutions brought for 

 violations of the laws for the protection of fish, game and forests, compares favorably 

 with that of any previous year, and the percentage of convictions is equally favorable. 



While the reports of the Protectors show that there is, in many of the districts, a 

 growing sentiment in favor of the enforcement of the game laws, and that in some 

 of them violations are extremely rare, there are also localities in which the sentiment 

 of the people is so strong in opposition to the laws that violators are far too frequently 

 acquitted by the jury or discharged by the justice under suspended sentence. 



The following figures, which have been compiled by the Chief Protector, show the 

 number and. kind of. illegal devices seized and destroyed by the Protectors for the 

 fiscal year ending September 30, 1897 : 



Kind 



No. 



Kind 



of Net. 



of Nets. 



of Net. 



Fyke, . 



607 



Seines, . 



Trap, . 



193 



Pound nets, 



Gill,. . 



• 3°3 



Spears, . 



Squat, . ■ . 



40 



Eel weirs, 



Set lines, 



610 





No. 



of Nets. 



35 

 10 



34 

 13 



Total, 



1,845 



The total value of the illegal devices destroyed was $19,634. 



During the year there were successfully prosecuted 316 cases for violation of the 

 Fisheries, Game and Forest. Law, resulting in a recovery by the people of $10,728.78. 

 Twenty-seven persons were convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary or county 

 jail, while many others were convicted and sentence suspended. There were also 

 many cases in which the evidence clearly showed a violation, but the sympathy of the 

 jury for the defendant resulted in acquittal or disagreement. 



The figures given above show excellent work on the part of the Protectors and is 

 sufficient answer to the criticism of uninformed persons to the effect that the Protectors 

 are incompetent and inefficient and, therefore, the laws for the protection of fish, game 

 and forests are everywhere violated with impunity. 



J. W. POND, 



Chief Protector. 



