I 
REPORT OF BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 7 
Without this source of revenue it would be an absolute necessity, in 
order to keep up the standard of our hatcheries and maintain an effi¬ 
cient patrol over the commercial fisheries, to ask for a larger appropria¬ 
tion from the general fund of the State. 
Should any change be deemed necessary in the present license law, it 
should in our opinion lie in the direction of a still higher fee from the 
alien who comes to our State to improve his condition, and in the 
majority of cases gives but little or nothing in return for the benefits he 
receives. It is well understood that an individual who engages in farm¬ 
ing must first acquire land, for which he pays a fixed price, either in 
original cost or rental, in addition to which he must pay for the tools 
and seed to plant it; but the fisherman gets thousands of acres of water, 
rent free, and the State pays for the seeding of it; his only outlay is for 
the tools he works with, therefore he can well afford to pay a liberal 
license fee, which goes for the maintenance and betterment of the very 
industry out of which he earns a livelihood. 
We are pleased to report the continued success of the hunting license 
law, now in its fourth year—the popularity of which is best shown by 
the returns. Our State took second place in the Union in its first year, 
being exceeded only by the State of Illinois, which has a population of 
5,000,000, as against 2,000,000 for California. The total value of sales 
in Illinois was approximately $150,000.00; in California $118,000.00. 
There was a falling off in sales for the second year of about $3,500.00, 
due to the use of a metal tag for a license, which bore no identification 
other than a number, and rendered loaning and trading comparatively 
easy and detection of the offense very difficult. For the third year, end¬ 
ing June 30, 1910, the record shows a gain of $14,000.00 over the pre¬ 
ceding year, or a grand total of $128,452.00. While some complaint has 
been heard regarding the use of a paper license, we feel the returns have 
fully justified the change. All states that have used a metal license have 
abandoned it in favor of a paper or cloth license, on which can be 
inscribed the purchaser’s name, with his description and signature. 
A recommendation, which had the universal endorsement of the 
sportsmen of the State, that a combined hunting and angling license 
be adopted, good for either hunting, or angling, for game fish, or both, 
we regret to say failed of final passage in the assembly. One most 
important point was gained, however, in making the law apply to the 
hunting of any wild birds and animals, as distinguished from protected 
birds and animals. This law removes all excuse for being out in the 
field without a license under the pretext of shooting unprotected game 
—a loophole that was quickly taken advantage of by most of the aliens, 
who would not take out a $25.00 license. It resulted in the sale of more 
alien licenses, but its best effect was shown in keeping them out of the 
