The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1927-08-25
FOR MORE GAME
AND GAME FISH
IN THE STATE
CONSERvATIONIsTS MEET
AND OFFER COMMITS
SION VALUABLE
SUGGESTIONS Z
By S. M. PoYTHREss

T. nj HE liter was present at an
M @ interesting and instructive
conference on wild life: con
- servation by prominent citi-
zens of Virginia, including the mem
bers of the Commissions advisory
committees, which was held in Rich
mond, Thursday July 14th in the old
senate chamber of the Capital build
ing, under the auspices of the Commits
sion of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The full membership of the Commits
sion was present and the meeting was
presided over by the Chairman, Major
A. Willis Robertson, of Lexington, who
presented His Excel1ency, Hon. Harry
Flood Byrd, Governor of Virginia.
Governor Byrd spoke informally and
told of his great interest in the conser-
walton cause, stressing partic llarly
the economic and recreational value of
the wild life resources of Virginia and
urging reasonable restraint in the
taking of game and game fish. He adj
vised a wider dissemination of knowl-
edge as to the aims and purposes and
the activities of the Commission of
Game and Inland Fisheries, and
thought that this would bring about a
spirit of close cooperation from the
people of the State, which would be
evidenced by the organization of local
game and game fish protective associa-
lions. The Governor also mentioned
the damage done to game by rowing
cur dogs and homeless cats, stressing
the Importance of vermin control.
The Governor was followed by the
Chairman, who stated that the primary
object was to produce more game and
gam. fish in the State, but that it was
first necessary to rearrange the finan-
cial affairs Of the department along
sound business lines and to bring the
activities, the State Game Farm, and
other branches of the work, to higher
degree of efficiency. With this i'm
portant task completed and the reor-
ganization. plans in good working
order, the Commission will have more
time for such constructive work as re-
stocking the forests and streams with
game and game fish, the opening of
public hunting grounds and the estab-
lishment of game fish hatcheries.
The Chairman read extracts from
the Commissions report of receipts
and disbursements as made to the Gov
ernor. He explained tnat the receipts
from the sale of hunting licenses and
Is per cent. of the dog fund had aver
aged $200,00000 for the fiscal years of
1925, 1926 and 1927-the actual re-
ceipts from such sources for 1927 be-
ing 1901 ,061.78; miscellaneous items,
aggregating $5,997.70, brought the
total receipts up to S207, 059.4 8.
The total operating cost of the de-
partment for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1926, was s210, 23378 and the
total operating cost of the Commission
for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1927, was S178,707.30, which shows
that the net operating cost for the
past fiscal year was reduced by the
sum of 31,526.48. This saving was
effected in four budgetary functions,
as follows: administration, $5,592.49
field activity, $19,376.37; educational,
$4,66064; and State game farm,
$1,536.98.
For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1926, the net receipts of the depart
ment amounted to $204 1927 30, and the
net disbursements, including $2,598.63
for capital OUTLAWS, amounted to $212,-
1872 Al, which means that during that
year, the department spent s8,004.86
more than it's net receipts, whereas
during the first fiscal year of the pres
ent Commission, the net receipts
amounted to $24,608.16 more than its
expenditures, after investing $3,744.02
in capital outlay improvements.
When it is considered that the net
receipts for 1927 exceeded those for.
1925 by only $2,231.93, and that in
1926 there was deficit of s8,004.86,
and in 1927 surplus of $24, 608.16 in
receipts as compared with expendi-
lures, after investing nearly $4,000 in
capital outlay improvements, it is APP
parent that for the past fiscal year,
the Commission has practiced the
strictest economy.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
work has been administered by COM
mission of five men and the compen-
sation of the Executive Secretary
fixed by statute at $4,200.00 Can in
crease. Of 100000 over his previous