12 THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 
“SHALL WE INCREASE THE ANGLING 
LICENSE?” 
By Warren J. Hunt, Salem, Oregon 
Editor Oregon Sportsman:—As an enthusiastic disciple of Isaac 
Walton, and also in response to your published invitation for inter- 
ested parties to take part in a general discussion relative to the 
question, ‘‘Shall we increase the angling license?’’ I would like to 
submit a few opinions which, I trust, will be in proper order. 
The question involves such a wide field for speculation as to the 
results which would be obtained by changing our present system of 
assessments, and the manner of choosing officers for the protection 
of fish and game that, in my humble opinion, it behooves the exercise 
of great caution in attempting to in any way alter the present fish 
protective rules and regulations. One of our present laws, passed, no 
doubt, through ignorance or for the benefit of a few, whereby the 
season is open for trout over ten inches long, is another death knell 
tc the small brook trout; as I write this article now, January 17, I 
have heard of a number of catches from small streams that will be 
fished out by April 1. And it is also true that the advent of the 
auto has had a tendency to seriously endanger the angling prospects. 
The ease and comfort with which anglers can indulge in the sport 
has brought on to the streams a veritable army of fishermen, and 
consequently the streams are being literally whipped to death each 
season. But, would the increase in the license bring about any better 
results in this respect? 
Personally, and there, no doubt, are others like myself, who would 
be in favor of such an increase in license fees, and even more than 
which has been suggested, providing that such a move would be 
instrumental in bringing about favorable results in the way of pre- 
serving the angling fields; but why not devote a little more serious 
attention to the work of affording a greater protection to the fish 
we already have in our streams? There is but one solution to this 
question, and that is, build up a more energetic and efficient body 
of deputies. 
In relation to this last remark, allow me to draw your attention 
to the report of the Fish and Game Commission for the past year. 
This report shows that in Lane County, a district containing one of 
the grandest fishing streams in the world where hundreds of sports- 
men angle, not one arrest was reported for the entiré season, or year, 
for that matter. As another instance of apparent laxity in the proper 
enforcement of our fish and game laws, I refer you to that section 
of the report covering Tillamook County. It is an unquestioned fact 
that this district is a regular fishermen’s heaven where thousands 
upon thousands of fish are caught each year, but strange to say, but 
one arrest was made in this county during the whole year. 
Now, as an example of real fish protection, I take pleasure in 
pointing "to the work of the Marion County deputy warden, Mr. Roy 
Bremmer. I recall that on or about June 1, last year, T had an 
occasion to ride from Mill City with Mr. Bremmer, and while traveling 
along the course of Thomas Creek we noticed a fisherman across on 
the opposite shore. Mr. Bremmer stopped his car and got out. I 
remarked about the stream at this point being deep and swift and 
asked him if he was intending to cross, He answered; ‘‘I never have 
