Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-08-26
rAE FIsA awe eAME PRocToR.

The report of Chas. A. Shriner, Game and
Fish Proctor of this State, for the months Of
June and July is just at hand, and con-
tains some interesting facts which we
quote
In accordance with the provisions of law,
herewith submit q report OF the work
doEe by the department in my charge
since the date of my last report.
Considerable attention has been paid
during the past two months to violations
of the law in BarDegat Bay, but despite
the vigilance of wardens who were sent to
the bay from other parts OF the state, no
prosecutions has resulted A number of
nets have been confscated and there is rea-
son to believe that the violations of law
have not been as numerous as IN past years.
That violations of the law still continue
cannot be gainsaid and this is due prin-
cipally to determination on the part of the
lawless element to net fish and to evade the
wardens and regret very much to say that
they meet with considerable support on the
part of hotel proprietors and others whose
interest lies in proper enforcement of the
law. In one case hotel prop rietOr COM
planned of violations near his place; he,
however, not only refused to indicate who
the violators were or where they piled
their unlawful business, but declared that
they were men in his employ, as he sup
piled them with ice and bought fish from
them he did not want the men punished
and refused to assist the wardens in any
way. Another hotel proprietor, having
become acquainted with the fact that war
dens were in the vicinity, coolly warned
violators of the law to that purpose and
and thus thwarted the efforts of the war
dens. The boatmen who are employed
in taking anglers out ON The bay are 10
league with the violators of the law and on
several occasions wardens have found it
impossible to secure boats for the purpose
of putting stop to netting. 1t will be
seen that under such circumstances The en-
forcement of the law is attended with
great difficulty. 1t is hoped, however. that
continual vigilance will result in the proper
protection of the bay.
/ deem it only proper to call the atten-
ton of the Board to malicious and FREE
quently wiliul misrepresentation made 10
certain newspapers concerning the work of
the wardens and deputies. Although the
press generally is in favor of the proper
protection of fish and game there are in
stances in which INSCRIPTIONS persons in
the employ of newspapers seize npon pros
ecutions for the purpose of villifying the
wardens and bringing their work into dis
repute. great many of the deputies
are men of means and of high standing in
the communities in which they reside and
they had secured their appointments only
for the purpose of decently protecting fish
and game. The work they do is labor of
love; they are sctuated by only noble impu-
lses and few ever receive any pecuniary re-
ward the share OF the fines to which they
are entitled is more than expended by cash
outlays, for there is no way in which their
expenses even can be paid. These are the
men in many instances who are selected
as victims by the vampires who have at
tached themselves to the honorable occupa-
ton of journalism.
A contract having been made for supply
of trout for next fall it is now necessary
that all persons desiring to have streams
stocked should file their applications as soon
possible in order that all may receive due
attention. Blank applications will be
cheerfully furnished on application to my
Office.
The report concludes with long list of
prosecutions under the law, all of which
are from the northern counties of the State.
where enforcement of the law is evidently
new departure.