DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME

LLEWELLYN Legge....

JOHN T. McCORMICK..

JUSTIN T. MAHONEY.

Chief Protector

.Deputy Chief Protector

Superintendent of Inland Fisheries

EMMETT B. HAWKINS.... Supervisor, Bureau of Marine Fisheries

REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME

When the Division of Fish and Game, on June 30, 1924, closed its books, there ended the most successful fiscal year in every branch of its many and various endeavors in the history of the Conservation Commission. The receipts of the Division during this period exceeded the receipts of the previous year by approximately 25 per cent.

The biggest increase is in the sale of hunting and trapping licenses, moneys received from this source mounting in one year from $275,104.24 to $340,040.14. The next largest increase is in fines and penalties collected by the game protective force where a gain of $30,889.79 was made.

Game Protection

The splendid record made by the game protectors in their many and varied lines of work during the fiscal year of 1923 was this year surpassed in most branches, and those that they failed to better were at least equaled. While the average number of cases prosecuted by each protector remains at twenty-nine, the average recovery collected per protector mounts from $655.15 to $666.77.

The total fines and penalties collected from persons violating the laws of the State of New York giving protection to fish and game during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924, amounted to $95,047.04.

Though the game protective force in 1924 has been augmented by 41 additional protectors, which means an increase in numerical strength of 45 per cent, the increase in fines and penalties this year over last is over 48 per cent.

On July 1, 1923, those of the protectors that were dropped from the force when the Legislature made available funds sufficient to carry but ninety men and desired to return were reinstated at the salaries they formerly drew, with the same standing in grade. The game protective force is now composed of 131 men, its numerical strength in 1920, before the reduction was made.

These 131 regular protectors, in the past year, settled 3,795 cases of violation of the fish and game laws, the 12 inspectors settled 47 cases, 24 of the special protectors settled 167 cases, and 36 of the State Police settled 108 cases, making a total of 4,117 violations to be prosecuted in this State last year for violating the fish and game laws.

Costs of Court. The costs arising out of the prosecution of 4,117 cases of violation reported to the Commission, amounted to $8,720.82. Of this amount $261.55 was paid as constable fees and $323.22 as attorney fees. The remainder, or $8,136.05, was paid as costs of court to Justices before whom the cases were determined.

Salt Water Pond, used for the propagation of artificially hatched oysters.

The average cost of prosecuting each case was $2.12. In other words, to collect fines and penalties amounting to $95,047.04, it costs a trifle more than nine cents on the dollar.

Miles Travelled. If there is any question as to whether the game protectors are active in patrolling their respective territories it would be seem to be answered by the record of miles travelled by the protective force during the past year. The records show that the regular protectors travelled a total of 1,457,701 miles. The average territory of each protector is 380 square miles, and the average number of miles travelled by each protector within this area is 10,878, or about 900 miles every month. The travelling expense money allowed each protector is $900 a year, so it will be seen that it cost the State of New York last year about eight cents for every mile travelled by the protectors. This eight cents per mile included railroad, automobile, livery and boat hire, board, meals, assistance, etc. Considering the variety of expenses covered, an average of eight cents per mile is very low.

Rating of Protectors.- In compliance with section 166 of the Conservation Law, the Commission rated the game protectors into grades, using as a basis for such rating, their work during the year ending September 30, 1924. As a result of this rating, 49 protectors qualified for the first grade, 17 qualified for the second grade and 23 were placed in the third grade. Protectors going into the first grade receive increased pay at the rate of $100 a year; those in the second grade receive increased pay at the rate of $50 per year; protectors placed in the third grade receive no increases and may be removed at the pleasure of the Commission. Protectors in the first and second grades cannot be removed unless furnished with reasons and given a hearing. The basic salary of a protector is $1,200, and the maximum salary to which he may raise himself is $1,500.

The Commission has found that the rating of protectors yearly is a big incentive for them to put forth their best efforts. Their qualifying for the first or second grades depends upon their accomplishments during the preceding year. It is only in this way that a protector may advance himself, and as the number of days worked and violations apprehended are factors in determining his place in the rating, the men are very active in patrolling the territories assigned them. An idea of their activity is to be gained from the average number of miles each protector travels.