Conservation Commission 185 



Tagging of Trout 



The tagging of trout has worked along the same lines as the 

 law which prohibits the sale of native game, as it protects the 

 native wild trout, but allows the sale of trout raised in private 

 hatcheries, thereby giving to the people of the State the oppor- 

 tunity to have trout for their table at any time during the year, 

 while at the same time closing the market to the unscrupulous 

 fisherman. The system adopted by the Commission which pro- 

 vides that all trout raised in private hatcheries for sale must be 

 tagged, is giving general satisfaction to the large hotels and 

 restaurant keepers who deal in this commodity, as they feel 

 perfectly safe in the handling and sale of the trout at any time, 

 since the tag assures them of its legality. The tagging is also 

 providing a revenue for the State, as a charge is made of three 

 cents per tag, the tags being furnished by the Department to the 

 hatchery. The hatchery must be operated under a license issued 

 by the Conservation Commission. During the past fiscal year 

 $8,638 has been received for tags which have been placed on 

 hatchery raised trout. A great many of these trout come from 

 private hatcheries without the State, and this system will be the 

 means of promoting the business of raising trout in private hatch- 

 eries for sale within this State. 



Additional Protectors 



In the past large numbers of persons have been apprehended 

 for misdemeanors of the Conservation Law in relation to fish 

 and game, because of the fact that they were not familiar with 

 its provisions, and therefore violated the law unintentionally. 

 It was then an easy matter to get evidence of a misdemeanor 

 being committed. At the present time it is entirely different. 

 There are practically no violations committed because of un- 

 familiarity with the law. Therefore it is a difficult matter to 

 readily apprehend the violators, and it naturally takes more time 

 and ability on the part of the protectors to detect these crimes. 

 The statistics of the department show that there has been a large 

 increase in the number of cases prosecuted. 



