26 GAME COMMISSIONS AND WARDENS. 



In Virginia each city may have 2 wardens and each magisterial 

 district 1 upon application of 5 resident freeholders. The city 

 wardens are appointed by the city or corporation court and the dis- 

 trict wardens by the circuit judge. Special provision requires, how- 

 ever, that in Accomac and Northampton counties the wardens are to 

 be 4 appointed on the recommendation' of the Eastern Shore Game 

 Protective Association, to which they make their report and by which 

 they are paid out of the returns from hunting license fees. The term 

 of the city and district wardens is four years and the compensation 

 not to exceed $300 a year, paid from hunting license fees. Beside 

 these regular wardens the commanders of the oyster police boats are 

 constituted game wardens., and in addition to their duties in this 

 capacity are required not only to enforce the game laws of the State, 

 but also to execute the laws of the United States relating to the pro- 

 tection of game. 



SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. 



The-operations of the game department can scarcely result in sub- 

 stantial success without the assistance of local officers, each with a 

 limited territory over which strict surveillance can be maintained. 

 This is as true as the converse of the statement, that local officers with- 

 out a central head rarely do effective work. Most of the States and 

 Territories have provided local officers of varying titles, whose num- 

 ber and terms of service depend largely upon the ability of each 

 State to provide means for payment. The highest salary paid deputy 

 game wardens in this country is $1,500 a year, which is allowed the 

 special deputies in Montana, who are allowed also $300 a year for 

 traveling expenses. As these wardens hold office for four years, it 

 will be seen that the position is one of standing and of adequate com- 

 pensation. From this maximum the amounts received grade down- 

 ward to the scantv allowance of criminal fees, and finally to service 

 without any compensation in several States. The meager compen- 

 sation resulting from the percentage of fines secured sometimes allowed 

 deputy wardens is hardly sufficient to enlist the services of active 

 men, and the scheme adopted in a few States of paying deputies a per 

 diem amount while actually performing service seems a better method 

 where funds are insufficient to keep these officers constantly employed.. 



The sources and methods of appointment of the subordinate war- 

 dens vary widely, but more satisfactory results seem to follow appoint- 

 ment by the State game department or official, to which they are thus 

 made directly amenable and by which they can be removed in case of 

 incompetency or dereliction of duty. By this method also appoint- 

 ments are removed from local and political influences and the warden 

 is untrammeled by any such considerations. 



