24 GAME COMMISSIONS AND WARDENS. 



Most of the States provide the commissioner or warden with an 

 office in the State capitol, equipped with suitable furniture, stationery, 

 and other facilities, and Maine several years ago made an appropria- 

 tion of §1,000 for preparing in the office of the commission an exhibit 

 of the native mammals and birds as a nucleus of a State museum. 



Several States allow their officers certain specified clerical or other 

 assistants, as follows: Alabama, clerk; Colorado, clerk at $1,000 a } T ear; 

 Idaho, clerk at $1,000; Illinois, not more than 10 assistants; Montana, 

 clerk at $1,200 per year; Vermont, clerk at $365 a year. 



Duties and powers. — The duties of these officials vary slightly in 

 each State, but on the whole they aim at the same result — the con- 

 servation of game for the purpose of furnishing both recreation and 

 a valuable food supply, and of nongame birds for economic and esthetic 

 reasons. In all the States except Illinois and North Dakota the duties 

 cover the protection of fish as well as game. Both duties and powers 

 will be further considered in connection with administrative provisions 

 with which they are closely interwoven. 



COUNTY WARDENS. 



Five southern and two western States — Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 

 Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and South Dakota — still adhere to the 

 cpunt}^ warden s}^stem and rely exclusively on local officers for the 

 enforcement of their game laws. In five of these States wardens are 

 appointed only upon petition of a certain number of citizens of the 

 county — in Florida from 75 freeholders; in Georgia from 50 free- 

 holders; in Mississippi from 10 reputable citizens; in Nevada from 20 

 taxpayers; and in South Dakota (for big-game wardens) from 10 

 citizens. 



Ajjpointment. — In Florida and South Dakota appointments are made 

 by the governor; in Georgia by the judge of the superior court; in 

 Kentucky by the county judge; in Louisiana by the police jury; and 

 in Mississippi and Nevada by the county commissioners or supervisors. 

 In Louisiana and Mississippi wardens have no jurisdiction over fish 

 matters, and in South Dakota (which provides for the appointment of 

 game wardens only in counties where big game exists) the enforcement 

 of the laws for protection of small game is left to the fish wardens. 

 Kentucky and Louisiana authorize the appointment of one or more 

 county or parish wardens, while the other States restrict the number 

 to one in each county. Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, and South 

 Dakota place no limit on the term of service, but Mississippi fixes the 

 term at four years and Florida at two years. In Florida, Kentucky, 

 Nevada, and South Dakota the wardens are required to give bond. 

 Georgia also provides for wardens to protect nongame birds exclu- 



