20 GAME COMMISSIONS AND WARDENS. 



quent demand upon the attention of the commissioner made it neces- 

 sary to relieve him of the work incident to enforcing the game laws 

 in order to insure more efficient administration of both branches of 

 the service. 



There has been and still is much diversity of opinion as to the 

 advantage of a single officer over a board. Minnesota at one time 

 intrusted the warden work to a single State game warden under the 

 act of 1887, but four years later established the present system of a 

 board of game and fish commissioners responsible for the policy of the 

 work, which is actually performed by an executive agent. Montana, 

 on the other hand, in 1895, established a board of game and fish com- 

 missioners, and three years later replaced it b} T a State game and fish 

 warden. New York has tried both plans, but has now placed the work 

 in charge of a single commissioner. Prior to 1901, administration of 

 the game laws of Vermont was committed to a commission of two 

 members, who served without salary, but the legislature of that year 

 abolished the old commission and reorganized the office with a single 

 commissioner at its head. In Wyoming, after the creation of the office 

 of fish commissioner in 1879, the legislature intrusted the duties to a 

 board of six members from 1882 to 1881, and later returned to the 

 original plan of placing the warden work in charge of a single officer. 



Appointment. — In every State and Territory above mentioned, 

 except Alabama, where the commissioner is elected by the people, the 

 officer is appointed by the governor and with few exceptions con- 

 firmed by the senate. 



• Qualifications. — Scarcely a State prescribes any qualifications for 

 the incumbent of the office. Colorado requires the appointee to be 

 skilled in matters relating to game and fish; Kansas, that he shall pos- 

 sess the requisite knowledge of the duties of a fish and game warden, 

 and Utah that the commissioner " shall not be a member of any hunt- 

 ing, shooting, or fishing club." 



Office. — The office of the State warden is not always at the capital 

 of the State. Frequently when no provision is made for him in the 

 capitol, he maintains an office and transacts his business at his place of 

 residence. At present the offices of the commissioners and wardens 

 of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, Okla- 

 homa, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming 

 are located at some distance from the capital. 05 



Term. — The term of office fixed by law varies from two to eight 

 years (see PL III). In Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, 

 New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin it 

 is two years; in Iowa three years; and in Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, 

 Michigan, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, 

 West Virginia, and Wyoming four years. The term of the Illinois 



« For addresses see Directory of State Game Officials, 1907, Circular No. 62, Bio- 

 logical Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



