130 GAME COMMISSIONS AND WARDENS. 



Duties and powers.-^ Required to report to general assembly each session; to issue 

 hunting licenses; may remove any warden at will and appoint his successor.; has 

 same powers for enforcement of the law as the subordinate wardens. 



Special wardens. — Number considered necessary by State warden, appointed by him 

 with jurisdiction throughout State; bond, $500. 



County wardens. — One for each county, appointed by State warden; bond, $506. 



Deputy county wardens. — Number in each county deemed necessary by county 

 warden and appointed by him; bond, $250. 



All wardens must take oath of office; hold office one year; are allowed one-half of 

 all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected in actions where they make the arrest 

 or secure the conviction; are peace officers vested with the powers of sheriffs and 

 are required to enforce game, nongame bird, fish, and forestry laws, and serve process; 

 authorized to arrest, without warrant, and take offender before a justice of the peace 

 or criminal court having jurisdiction and prosecute him; to seize and confiscate 

 game taken or held contrary to law; to search, with warrant, box, barrel, wagon, 

 oar, cold-storage house, or other receptacle for contraband game. 



(3) G-arne protection fund: License fees and one-half fines, penalties, and forfeit- 

 ures under game laws are paid to State warden for use in enforcing the game laws. 



(4) Administrative provisions: Upon the sworn statement of any person that 

 game law has been violated, any justice of the peace having jurisdiction shall issue 

 his warrant directed to any officer or warden commanding him to arrest offender 

 and hold him for trial; nonresident having game in possession for export shall pre- 

 sent his license and sworn statement to any officer demanding it; grand juries of 

 circuit and criminal courts have inquisitorial power over violations of nongame bird 

 laws and upon probable cause shall make presentment without prosecutor; judges 

 of criminal courts required to give nongame bird act in charge to grand jury at each 

 term; prosecutions and actions for penalties can be brought only on order of State 

 warden or one of his deputies, and he may compromise or discontinue any action 

 where violation is technical or where further prosecution would be oppressive; par- 

 ticipants in offenses compelled to testify, but exempted from prosecution thereafter; 

 State warden may go to any part of the State when informed of a violation of law 

 and summon witnesses for purpose of ascertaining the truth of the charge in order 

 to prevent useless and frivolous prosecutions; anyone summoned must attend and 

 testify; resistance to or interference with a warden in discharge of his duties is a 

 a crime; violation as to each animal or bird is a separate offense; licensees must 

 exhibit their licenses to any warden or owner of land upon their request. 



Prosecution must be begun within twelve months. 



TEXAS. 



(1) Officers: Game, fish, and oyster commissioner; office of fish and oyster 

 commissioner established April 26, 1895; title changed and duties extended to game 

 July 1, 1907; term, two years; bond, $10,000; salary, $2,500 per annum, $700 of 

 which is payable from game fund; allowed $600 per annum for necessary expenses. 



Duties and powers. — To enforce game and bird laws and bring necessary actions for 

 that purpose; to seize, without warrant', game or birds caught, taken, killed, possessed, 

 or shipped contrary to law; to make regulations for export by licensees of game law- 

 fully killed by them; may make complaints for violation of the law without sanction 

 of prosecuting attorney, and shall not be required to furnish security for costs; has 

 powers of a sheriff for service of criminal process and requiring aid in such service; 

 may arrest, without warrant, persons found in act of committing an offense; must 

 make monthly report to secretary of State; issues hunting licenses. 



Chief deputy game, fish, and oyster commissioner. — Appointed by the commissioner 

 to assist him and exercise his powers when he is absent or incapacitated; salary, 



