68 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 
LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
To the Honorable Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, 
GENTLEMEN : 
I herewith submit to you a report of the legal department of the 
commission for two years ending June 30, 1918. During this biennial 
period the number of arrests for violations of both fish and game laws 
were 1,797, the number of convictions had were 1,553, the amount in 
fines collected was $31,639.50 and imprisonments totaled 2,4654 days. 
This department has given many opinions interpreting the fish and 
game laws of the state and has written hundreds of letters answering 
inquiries regarding these laws. 
The district attorneys throughout the state are co-operating in every 
way with the commission in the enforcement of the fish and game laws, 
and in a large measure, the high percentage of convictions, which is 
86.4 per cent, is due to this co-operation. 
The number of arrests has decreased materially. This is due to the 
campaign of education inaugurated by the commission in teaching the 
people the value of fish and game, of the absolute necessity of protect- 
ing them during the breeding season, of having limited open seasons in 
which they may be taken, and of having a bag limit fixed by which the 
breeding stock may not be depleted and each species may be perpetu- 
ated. 
The co-operation of the justices of the peace with the commission 
throughout the state is evidenced by the fact that in many instances jail 
sentences have been imposed upon violators without any alternative. 
The work of compelling owners of dams to construct fishways has 
met with much success and some opposition. A number of hearings 
have been demanded by several of the public service corporations and, 
after evidence had been taken and submitted, the commission made 
orders instructing said corporations to install fishways. 
The work of compelling owners of canals and ditches to place and 
maintain screens on their intakes has been progressing most favorably 
and a large number of owners throughout the state are complying with 
the orders of the commission to screen their intake, and in every way, 
with but few exceptions, are co-operating in saving the fish from 
destruction. 
A number of actions have been prosecuted against the oil companies 
operating on the shores of San Francisco and San Pablo bays for 
depositing oil or residuary products of petroleum therein. Two of the 
companies have, since being proceeded against, installed devices that 
will prevent such pollution in the future. In San Luis Obispo County 
