STATE GAME WARDENS. 19 



in the United States has not been generally adopted. In New Jersey 

 it proved very unpopular, and after an experience of about twenty 

 years was abandoned. It should be explained, however, that this may 

 have been due in part to the extraordinary powers granted the society 

 under the act of 1873. In Delaware, for several years, an effort has 

 been made by the members of the societ}^ to transfer the work to a 

 regularly organized game commission on the plea that the duties could 

 thus be more effectively performed. North Carolina was the first State 

 to incorporate its Audubon society and confer such extensive authority 

 upon it — a method of enforcing the game laws which in this State has 

 survived the experimental stage and is now a demonstrated success. 



STATE GAME WARDENS. 



Twenty-three States and two Territories — Alabama, Colorado, 

 Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, 

 Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Okla- 

 homa, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West 

 Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming — provide for a single official to 

 direct the affairs of the game department, the title of the office vary- 

 ing somewhat with each State. 



The constitution of Nebraska (Art. V, sec. 26) prohibits the creation 

 of any executive State office other than those therein mentioned and 

 provides that duties devolving upon officers not provided for shall be 

 performed by those already authorized. In compliance with this 

 provision the legislature of 1901, in the act establishing a game and 

 fish commission, declared the governor the commissioner. The actual 

 duties of the office are, however, performed by a chief deputy, ap- 

 pointed by him, with headquarters in the capitol. 



North Dakota formerly had a State warden, but in 1903 the legis- 

 lature divided the State into two game districts and created the office 

 of district game warden in each district. In a large State or in one 

 of varied topography where the different sections requiring super- 

 vision are widely separated this plan has the advantage of permitting 

 the warden to exercise a closer supervision of his territory. Thus in 

 Colorado there are five chief game wardens, each assigned to a definite 

 territory, and all under the supervision of the commissioner. 



The office of State warden in Tennessee is a cabinet position, the 

 department of game, fish, and forestry having been made one of the 

 departments of the State government. a 



The legislature of Washington in creating the office of State game 

 warden in 1899 directed that the State fish commissioner should be 

 ex officio warden; and in 1905 authorized him to appoint a chief deputy 

 who should devote all his time to the game interests of the State. 

 The magnitude of the fisheries industry in Washington and their conse- 



« The same is true of the office of fish commissioner in Pennsylvania. 



