The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-02-11
OUR FISH AND
GAME WARDENS
Last Report Of Protector n. d. Me-
Gulre Gives Some Pointed Facts.
APPROPRIATION roo SMALL
Work of the Department Hainp"reh
Clatsop'a Shorin the only one VINO
Rendered Assistance.

The report H the nHh and game pro
t.ctor which has BEEN prepared Tor thh
presrnt Legislature contains many M
tet,stlng facts ana comments, among
which is a short chapter devoted 10 the
matter of ths enforcement Of the game
and fish laws. Hon. II. u. M"iuire'
the present incumbent. writes an fol-
lows ON that subject:
The ac, creating the oiiice OF hsh
and game protector. passed In 1898 ana
rc-cnantvd In 1886. makes u the duty
Of said officer 30 enforce the hSh ana
game laws under tfs dircotion Of the
governor This act provides only the
email sum ol 5000 par year for travelling
and other expenses Of the Office. inciud-
ing the rent Of patrol boats. which IL
" necessary 10 employ during the close
season for salmon. the entire fund iH
no, sufficient 90 carry on this branch
OF the work alone. The old fish com
missioner had AN appropriation of 1900
per year for the work connected with
the enforcement OF the fiah laws. while
the hsh and snhne protector has had
only one third OF this amount with
which 10 perform the work OF the old
commission. and the additional expense
connected with The enforcement OF the
gam, laaH. which duty was added To
that Of the work Of the old commission
when the osiic. OF dash and game pro-
t,sutor was created. and the fish COM
mission act repealed.
II have made every effort possible.
with this small sum. to protect the
fish and game or the STAKE. Because Of
the insufficient means NJ my command.
to cover the entire field. | have deemed
Il Wis. 10 deyute my main effort 10 that
paix OF the work OF the most value TO
the state via. the food FISH industry.
For this have been criticized by some
Of the enthusiastic sportHnen; aud my
only reply Is that have conscientiously
done the very bcst l could with the
means at my command.
Another provision oC the aot creating
tho oilicc " ash aud game protector
makes II the duty Of every sheriff. dep
uty sheriff and constable in the state
10 enforcs, all laws for the protection
OF hsh and game In their respective
counties. under the direction OF the fish
and game protector; the object OF this
/ ,,,.tstugx,, ~, 1nn1., k,saa - t,,aE. lat,t.
~ fish and game protectors OF sherifs
and oonstahles. in the expectation that
they would cooperate with the protect
or In the enforcement OF the fish and
game laws. This they have not done
for with the exception OF Sheriff Hare
OF Clatrsop county, I have received nc
assistance from this source From the
experience OF the past four years.
have become convinced that no practl
cal and effective enforcement OF oui
game laws can he had without adopt.
ing some such method as is now IL
force in California That state, aftel
experimenting for years (much as We
have been doing in our efforts 20 MAKE
sheriffs and constables fish and game
prntectorsl, passed an act In 1895 knowI
as the Fish and game warden law.
This law makes provision for the ap
pointment OF fish and game wardeI
by the county commissioners OF eacl
county in the state, and fixes the salar,
to be paid, leaving II optional, however
with the various county commissioner
10 make or not make such appoint
ments; II is also provided that saft
wardens shall make reports quarterl.
to the county court OF all arrests made
convictions had, and fines paid all fine
collected going to the county treasurer
Wardens are subject TO removal at an,
time for neglect OF duty or other goo,
cause, This law in California has prov
ed very effective FOR the protection o
game and fish Those counties havint
large fish and game interests to protect
appoint wardens and pay them for thei
services, the fines collected being ap
piled 10 reimburse the county for tn
expense of the officers salary, and thos
counties which have small fish an,
game interests to protect make no ap
pointments,
Such a law, 1t seems to me, woul
provide the best possible means OF sc
curing strict enforcement of the law
and afford effective protection to ou
fish and game interests Such a la,
has the further merit of being equitabl
In that the expense would fall upo
those counties in the state most directl
benefited
I'm our state 1t could and should b
made part of the duty of the count
wardens TO enforce the law for tn
protection of our forests by arrestin
and prosecuting all persons setting ou
forest fires in violation of said statut,
this important law for the protectio
of one of our greatest sources of wealt
is at the present time dead lette
because Of the lack of proper provisio
for its Enforcement If such la
4 should be enacted by our Legislature,
: would also enable the official upo
whom the responsibility devolves {
fostering and promoting our great foo
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(Continued on Third PaRel