Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-05-18
MEET COMMISSIONER LEAvENs.
Beneficial Conference with Sportsmen
in the G.. A. r. Hall-Warden Sys-
tenn Under Discussion.

tenn Under Discussion.
A mutually beneficial conference be
tween State Fish and Game Commits
sioncr Linus Leavens and members OF
the Windham County Fish and Game
club took place in G. A. r. hall Friday
evening when various matters pertain
ing to the work of the department
were discussed informally.
Mr.. Lcavcns at the outset informed
those present that he was not especial
~ well informed on the technical end
of the fish and game business but that
he was looking forward to giving his
best to make his administration a sue
cess in business way, depending ON
the government experts on duty in the
state for the more formal end of the
work.
Mr.. Leavens talked at length ON the
warden and patrol question. He said
il part
"The department has been some
what handicapped in the past with
what l call picayune prosecutions. For
instance, one warden in an instance
which | recall brought prosecution
against a poor man with big family,
making him pay a big fine to escape
going to jail, and as q result the fam.
ily was thrown on the town for sup.
port. Naturally this provides a kick
back to the department. Another time
n warden arrested young boy who
was ignorant of the law.
"These prosecutions | claim could
have been avoided and the intent of
the law carried out, provided the war
den had used better judgment, talked
with the violators and brought about a
more amicable settlement. | do not be-
licvc that the man with good catch
of legal fish who has one short trout
should be prosecuted, that is unless he
habitually does this trick. It's the
man who has many short trout and
who makes a practice of draining the
streams of the smaller fish who should
be prosecuted. | do believe that when
a continual violator is caught, he
should be pushed to the full extent of
the law without regard to standing in
the community, friendship or any 9TH
cr circumstance.
"Therc has been considerable ques-
tion in the department about the best
way of patrolling the streams and
lakes in the counties. The old system
of u warden in each town has not
worked out to the best advantage in
many instances. In fact, | now recall
several eases where the deputy warden
in certain towns was the greatest of
all poachcrs in his section, not val
ucd addition to the department.
81 believe that Il man in good stand
ing in every community. not for the
amount of actual work he might do
but for the information he would be
able to give to the county warden
would be an excellent system. And in
this connection | wish it understood
that | want to make all my work along
the constructive basis, working on tho
basis established by Mr.. Titcomb for
| assure you, he gave careful work and
study to the state situation and he had
built up strong foundation for ar
excellent system.
| 81 also think it would be a good
idea to try out the use of stranger
in patrollng certain brooks on busy
fishing days.
This last phase of the warden sys
tenn was talked over generally by the
sportsmen present and it was agreed
that a deputy would have better sue
cess III II foreign section of the county
and among strangers than where he il
| known.
The problem of stocking stream,
was discussed at some length togethc
with the idea, strongly favored by tn,
commissioner, of permanently closin:
the small tributary streams in certain
localities.
Mr.. Leavcns told of the splendid re
suits that are being secured at the Ben
Inington rearing station where 10000
trout will be raised to the fngcrln,
stage. lie said that conditions at tn,
South Vernon station, where abou
100000 brook trout and 10000 salmon
fry are being reared, were not as idea
as at the Bennington plant but tina
if feasible the department planned t,
enlarge the Windham county station
materially. He stated that he shoul'
have the Vernon plant inspected by
technical expert from the fedora
hatchery at st. .Johnsbury within
short time.