f'-'WS/^ * Ql0na?ruatt0tt OF THE Natural JooJi ^^tmmttB OF THE inU of Eoutfitatta O c^ ^ V oo PRESS OF DAMERON-PIERSON CO., LTD. NEW ORLEANS iSi^pnrt OF THE ^oarb of (Hammmmanns FOR THE BtnU of IGouifiiatta 1912 ,■■■^-■ MEMBERS FRANK M. MILLER, President, New Orleans Appointed by the Governor FRED. J. GRACE, Ex-Officio - Plaquemine Register State Land Office Prof. W. R. DODSON, Ex-Officio, Baton Rouge Director State Experiment Stations I I JA: ^!3 "■^x'i :<>;.•■• LMOST every one admits the necessity of laws for the Conservation of our Natural Resources in the way of Game, Fish, Oysters, Shrimp and Water Sites. It is conceded that our present laws are not perfect, hut this Board believes that the v^ery best of foundations were laid down by the last General Assem- bly in collaboration with your Excellency, and we trust the work will be permitted to go on and be improved, until Louisiana shows to all the States of the Union the best system whereby the many problems connected with this new and almost unknown feature of our body politic are solved to the uplift of the State and her sovereign people. ANATOMY OF THE OYSTER FROM A MODEL IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NO EQUAL AREA exists on the earth comparable to Louisiana in the productiveness of her lands or the wealth in her waters. We have over 534,700 acres of the finest oyster bottoms in this or any other country. Past General Assemblies have enacted laws for the conservation of this resource which in the main have been good, but only relatively so. It was the opinion of the members of the various sessions of that body that it would be better to go slow and sure, rather than enact radical laws which might be antagonistic to the devel- opment of the business on safe lines. During the past year, the citizens engaged in this business mai'keted approximately eight hundred thousand barrels of oysters, of an approximate value of one million dollars to the fishermen. This is about the maximum pro- duction of our bottoms under the present system permitted l)y our laws. No great increase can be counted on until the General Assembly enacts a law giving our Board authority to adjudicate the trust in the several parishes as local conditions determine, or decide to pass a general law forcing a more general adoption of the renting system. The former would l)e the most logical. The latter' system is a siiia cjuo non to the solution of the problem and sooner or later will be incorporated in the law as the policy of the State. Another feature sacremental to the continued existence of the resource is the return of a part of the oyster shells taken from the natural reefs and unleased bottoms, to be placed on other bottoms for the upbuilding and continuance of the future supply. The triangulation of our oyster bottoms, a most important work which has been urged upon us by the experts of the Federal Government, should be started at once. Sooner or later this work must be done. With the issu- ance of each new lease, the problem of keeping exact field data of all leases grows greater. If this Avork is not begun shortly and carried on as the income warrants, it will have to be done some day at a vast expenditure of time, trouble and labor. Attached to this report is a chart prepared l)y our Ghief Surveyor, Frank T. Payne, showing the conditions of the oyster resource in St. Bernard Parish. There are fewer leases here than in any other parish and it is shown so as to give an idea of the vast importance of the work. In times past it was the custom to give out statements regarding the possible vast income to be derived from the operation of tlie oyster resources of the State. This was unfortunate to say the least, and this present Board wants to go on record as discountenancing any plan Avhich provides for the State to exploit this resource. We believe the business should be operated by tlie citizens of the various parishes, and supervised by the State on the most economical basis, and that all sur]ilus funds arising therefrom should immediately l^e applied to the upljuilding of the resource so that each year the condition of the resource as to natural possibilities and to business outgrowing therefrom should show a most healthy development. —7 — OUR FISHERIES exist ill cnilirvo and yet tlici'c is no ('(|uai wattT area anywlicre. The possi- bilities of our water tor tlic jji-oduetion of fish are almost unbelievable and only nee(ls seicntifie (levelopineni to make out streams the ])erennial source of a vast quantity of tootlisoiiie and valuahle food t-onimoditv. to he sold in tbe markets of the world. The practice of dynamiting our streams was larij-ely jirevalent tlirouuli- out the State before we took bold of the work, but thanks to the activity of the wardens and the stimulus of a reward of fiftv dollars for evidence sufficient to convict the guilty parties, we have ahnost Ijroken up this rc]tre- hensible practice. We have planned the erection of two fish batchcries b)r the ])roduction of black bass or green tiout. One in the Southern the other in the Northern part of the State. The ])resent fish law is tbe l)eginning of tbe develoiiment of this resource and is only an experiment. Unfortunately, the class of citizens which it seeks to control is the most independent and the most iin]n-ovident of all citizens. After one hundred years of effort thev have nothing to show for all their labor but -the direst poverty, for tbe sini])le reason that the State has neglected them and tbe marvelous ]jossil)ilities of the food, su])]dv thev handle. We would arouse the peo])le to tbe iiii])()rtance of this (|uestion. l:)elieving the time has come wdien the antiquated methods of tbe ])resent should give wav and tbe business jdaced on a firm and enduring basis wherehy it could grow and expand into the magnitude to which it is entitled. In fact, tbe General Assembly must either do this, or abandon the resource altogether and allow it to be dissi])ated through the neglect of tliose who hitherto have almost destroyed it through their ignorance of and indifference to its wonderful value. We wish it were ]iossihle to begin an immediate development of tbe resource. Before doing so, however, two grave ]3rnblems intimately connected therewith must be settled. Tbe first relates to the destruction of the water hyacinth, which in some ])arts of the State has taken complete possession of the streams. 'Idie Federal Government is working on the problem and after seeing what they can do. or rather what they cannot do towards the eradication of the ])est, we are conscious that the State has a stu]3endous undertaking on its hands. The second obstacle is tbe eiioruious increase of gar fish inhal)iting our streams with the result of destroying the game fish therein at such an alarm- ing rate that something must be done and done soon to stop a threatened disaster. After a thorough investig;dion l)y Prof. Beyer of Tulane University, we believe the most essential tlniig to prevent this is the re-establishment of the alligators in our streams. Formerly they were plentiful, but in recent years the hide dealeis have practically exterminated them with the result of taking away tlie check which nature had ]ilaced against the undue increase of the gar fish. A State law for the iirotection of alligators must first be enacted liy tbe (icneral As^emldy ere aiiv amelioration or iiniu'ove- iiient of the ])reseiit combtion of our streams can lie expected. (Commercial fisheries on a vast scale are the possibilities of our unrivalled water area. The Federal Government has proposed the establishment of a great fish hatchery on tbe Atchafalaya Eiver for the propagation of cat fish. It is needless however, to expect the inauguration of any such wort as long as tbe State has no settled policy regarding the conservation of her resources. In order to determine what was a right policy, we solicited the Federal Bureau of Fisheries to find us a first class fish culturist, and later on they recommended E. A. Tulian, lately Fisli Commissioner of the Argentine Republic. The most painstaking investigations of the streams of the State were made by him and we are now fully conscious of the State's needs and only await the ap])roval of the (leneral Asse]nl)ly to begin active work on the solution of the various problems. The State stands at the parting of the ways and a most momentous question will have to be settled by the next General Asseml)ly. Either this vast resource must be conserved on lines already laid down, or be allowed to die through want of proper care. THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY enacted a law for the i)rotection of Salt Water Shrini]). ISTo sooner did we attempt to enforce it than an injunction was taken out against us in the Federal District Court by Two CJiiiKinini who had for years benefited by the Sfates hospitality and indifi'erence to tlie worth of the resource. We defeated them in that Court, whereupon they took an a]i]ieal to the Su])reme Court of the United States, thereby putting the State to great expense and trouble, in addition to having set aside the ])]ain mandate of the last General Assemlily. Under these circumstances, your Board l)elieves the tiinc lias come when the resource could more profitably bo handled l)y citizens of our own State and placed upon the market as a Louisiana product, which we regret to say the citizens of another State wlio liave hitherto handled the commodity, have failed to do. Due to the fact tliat the various interests have never been able to agree on any measure of conservation for this resource, no laws for the protection of lake shrimp (peneaus setipherous) were enacted by the General Assembly previous to the last one. In consequence of this neglect the annual catch has dro])ped down to ten million pounds of an annual value of three hundred thousand dollars (.$;]On,()(in.O() ) and it will l)e many years ere the resource can 1)0 brought to its maximum annual production of, we believe, one hundred million ])ounds of edil)le food. THE QUESTION OF Game Preserves has received considerable attention by the sportsmen of our own and other States since the last General Assemhly set aside and placed under the control of our Board some State lands located in Caldwell and Plaquemines Parishes. Edward Avery Mcllhenny of Avery Island and Charles Willis Ward, late of Michigan, have given to the vState under our control 13,000 acres of the finest marsh lands located in Vermilion Parish. Louisiana, the winter home of the migratory ducks and geese, thus leads the way to a better safe-guarding for all future time of these winter habitants, and sportsmen everywhere have hailed this donation and the work of your Board as one of the greatest features of game conservation in this country. GAME PROTECTION. We now take uj) for consideration the most important work we have been engaged in, to-wit : the preservation of the game animals of the State and the inauguration of a paid game warden service. The history of game protection in this State, until recent 3'ears, has been one long series of failures. In the year 1857, the first law for the —9— protection of gixme hirds was ]iassofl by tlie General Asscml)ly. In it the control of the game in 8t. Bernard Parisli was given to tlie Police Jury of that Parish. Twenty years afterwards, in the year 1877, the General Assom1)ly dele- gated to the Police Juries of all the parishes the same right. As far as we can learn, no parish took advantage of this permission and in consequence, the State escaped the unfortunate experience of some of the other States in having a multi])licity of local ordinances. Five years afterwards, in the year 1883, the General Assembly re-en- acted the Act of 1877. But still no Police Jury of any Parish would take advantage of the permission so given. In the year 1896, after thirty-nine years of failure, the General Assem- bly of that year enacted a most sweeping act, granting to the Police Juries of tlie several parishes of the State, authority to pass such ordinances "AS THF.Y MAY DEEM PROPEP for the preservation of wild game and g-ame fish." EVEN THIS SWEEPING LAW was not sufficient. It was found that wliile the General Assembly could enact laws giving absolute power to the Police Juries to protect game and fish, the parish boards eitlier would not enact suitable ordinances or had no means to enforce them if thev did so. The result being an absolute and disheartening failure and in all attem]:)ts at the solution of the problem this experience of the State with the Police Juries should never be lost sight of. In the year 1898, the General Asseml)ly began to exi^eriment with State control, and in the year 1900 re-enacted the same kind of law. The State, however, could do no better than the Parish Police Juries for the reason that there was no agency, nor no money to ])ay an agency to enforce the law. So in 1902, the General Assembly went liack to the Police Jury idea, giving them power "to a]5])oint Game Wardens, to define their duties and to provide for their compensation." Anyone familiar with the pressing demands for money to carry on the necessary work of the various parishes might have known tliat this experi- ment was doomed to failure, but such thoughts were not considered, it l)eing conceded that paid Game Wardens to enforce the Game Laws were as necessary as the Game Laws themselves. Thus after forty-five years struggling with Game Laws, the General Assembly at last reached the conclusion that it was futile to enact more laws until they had first ])rovided some ]iaid agency to enforce what laws they created. Just at this time when game production had sunk to the lowest state of public indifference, the Audubon Society, composed of citizens of the State was inaugurated and began a campaign of education on the value of insectivorous birds to the agricidtural interests of the State. They showed by indisputable evidence the tremendous losses and waste of resources that had been suffered by the people of the State. To clinch the argument and just at this moment, the boll weevil made its appearance with the result that our cotton planters and allied business interests were almost ruined. This was an object lesson in bird destruction which could not be ig-nored, and sentiment for the protection of insectivorous l)irds as well as game birds began to rapidly manifest itself all over the State. In the years 1904 and 1906, the General Assembly was engaged in trying to solve the problem and at last, in the year 1908, after fifty- one years of experimentation, they created the Board of Commissioners for —10— the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, with authority to appoint the Game Wardens which they knew were al)solntely essential in the solution of the problem, and makino- it coni])i;lsory on everyone who killed game either for pleasure or for profit, to ])ay an annual license to defray the cost of this paid Warden service. Since that day, the Board of C*oininissioners has been eno-aged in try- ing to solve the innumerable problems connected with the conservation of these i^atural Resources. THE WARDEN SERVICE always has been and ])robal)ly always will be siibject to criticism. One man only can be appointed in the large majority of the parishes. All the other applicants (and there are very many) at once feel aggrieved and it is but natural to expect them to vent tlieir disappointment in fault-finding. A feature in line with tliis fault-finding by the disappointed office seekers, is the way in which the Warden service has been condemned by those who do not hunt or pay for a hunting license. This is a never ending source of surprise to the members of your Board. This whole movement for the conservation of game was started by the sportsmen who earlier than the members of the General Assembly, realized that without a paid Warden service there never could be enforcement of the game laws and Mdio willingly assess themselves this tax to carry on the work and thus save the State from appropriating from the General Fund a sum of money sufficient to pay for same. We therefore respectfully urge upon the members of the General Assembly the reasonableness of ignoring the criticisms of tliose Avho are not financially interested in the problem. The Warden service is also condemned in ])arishes where the game has disa])peared, and yet there is no other way that can be imagined than to rigidly enforce the game laws during the breeding season so as to aid nature in her effort to bring back the former plenty, and this is impossible of accomplishment without a paid service. The fact of the matter is that game preservation without a yiaid warden service is an absolute impossibilit}''. Such being the case the most important question is how to get the best service, for the sportsmen who ]iay for the service want the best to be had. We have listened to every manner of suggestion as to the improvement of tlie warden service. After weighing the merits of each, we take the liberty of suggesting the following plan which seems to meet many of the objections urged against the ])resent system. All applicants to register them- selves with the Board, to sulnnit themselves for competitive examination as to their mental, moral and physical fitness and the one securing the highest percentage to be a]ipointed. With competitive examinations and close supervision to maintain efficiency, we l^elieve the State can give the sportsmen what tliey want and pay for. IN LOOKING BACK over the four years of the existence of the C*ommission and the Warden Service, the members of the Board ai'e anuized at the changes which have taken place. Before we began work, the shi]3ment of wild ducks to the Xorthern markets during the hunting season had assumed colossal propor- tions. This has been Ijroken up and only a few l)irds are now surreptitiously shipped out of the State. New York bird dealers were responsible for an annual loss to the State of probably 25,000 mocking birds. This has been broken up and —11— everyone, from one end (if tlie State to the otlier, lias noticed liow tlie mock- ing birds haA-e increased. One of the singiihir results of the activities of tlie Wai'dens has been the disappearance of the "])ot-lunit('r"' throniiiiont tlie State. Formerly he killed everything that tlew, lioth in ami out of season. Xow in many instances, he does not even carry a gnn. The most astonishing thing, however, is the unprecedente(l increase of onr stock of quail or bol) white, and, doves, due altogether to the fact that our wardens have kept the hunters out of the fields during the breed- ing season, and if the Oenera! Assemlily wnuld enact a State dog license law which would result in getting ritl of the vast lioi'de of cur dogs, the result WDuld 1)0 such an increase of (|uail that they would liecome a common article of diet. NATURE IS SO WONDERFULLY prolific within the hounds of (tur Statt', that if only the General Assembly would decide to place this Board on tlie.sanie plane of responsibility that it has placed many other Boards, such as the State Board of Health, the Levee Boards, the Prison Board, and the I'ailroad Commission, and allow it to solve within constitutional limitations, the innuinoi-alilc i)roblenis con- nected with game ])reservation as they ai'ise, Louisiana could be made the greatest game area within the L'nion. For instance Ave intend to ask the General Assembly to take the time to pass an Act for the protection of ral)bits. Xo one particularly cares to have rabbits protected, yet we are forced to ask this for the reason that in some ])arishes Avhere objection to the game law exists, due to the fact that there is no game there, the hunters have been told; to tell our Avardens that they are out liunting rablnts and need no license. Thereby breaking the spirit of the law Avhile acknowledging the force of the letter. SeA^enty-five thousand sportsmen find pleasure in hunting Avhile about GOO market hunters supply the tables of those of our citizens who do not hunt and the vast nimiber of strangers avIio visit our restaurants and hotels during the season Avhen game may be sold. Lnder our ]iresent law a most unjust arrangem.ent prevails Avith the uuirket buntt'r and should 1)0 cor- rected. A heaA-y tax falls on him, wlnle the ])eo])le Avho buy game in th.e markets, hotels and restaurants do not cunli'ibute one i)enny to the su])])ort of the Commission and its various activities. We are therefore asking the General Assembly to make a change in the present law l)y i^ermitting the market hunter to hunt under a dollar license and making the retailer place on each dead bird a license tag, the cost of Avhich be will ])roceed to collect from the consumer Avho by right should, ])ay the tax and Avho cannot legiti- mately com])lain of such action. VALUE OF GAME KILLED. The question naturallv ])rcsents itself as to what these Tr),OnO sportsmen receiA^e in return for tlieir dollar ])ermit to hunt and kill the game Avhich by legislative enactment and dcei-ce of the United State?^ Supi'eiue Court belongs unconditionally to the State. Pi'obablv no two ansAvers woCild agree and ours is only an ajjproxiniate one, l)ut after ])ainstaking iuA'-estigations Ave believe irrespective of all other considerations other than the monetary one, that the total kill of game birds and animals and fur-liearing animals has a net annual value of considerably more than two million dollars Avith a constantly increasing annual value due to the suiiervision of the Avarden service during the breeding season. The pleasure Avhich the sportsmen deriA'e from the ])ursuit of game, Ave admit is the main factor in the sale of the —1:2— licenses, yet nevertheless the monetary aspect is there and shonld l)e con- sidered when the suhject is before the people for discussion. One feature of game protection will have to be seriously considered by the next General Assenil:)ly. The amateur sportsmen, who support the Commission and its warden service Ijy means of their dollar license, are going to demand the enactment of a law prohibiting the sale of game animals and game birds, except ducks. j\Iany States of the Union have already adopted this profiso and it is a serious question whether Louisiana shall fall in line or not. 'J'hc s])ortsmen themselves will present this question to the General Assembly on its merits. The trust committed to the care of your Board is of such immense value and importance to tlic ])eo])le of the State, that it is difficult to compress a report on same witliin reasonal)le readable limits, or not to speak of it in terms of great enthusiasm. Innmlierable details connected Avith its development must be worked out, but with care and patience and time, we believe it is possible to do this and make the work a grand success. It is necessary, however, that the General x\ssembly should decide upon some fixed policy to Conserve our Great Natural Eesonrces, so that the work could be laid out on a com- prehensive plan and l^e carried out as income and op]iortunity warrants. Forty-two States of the Union have a similar system or parts of it which the last General Assembly enacted into law in the belief that they were solving the Conservation problems confronting us in this State, and it is earnestly hoped that this great and grand work shall not fail of final and complete accomplishment. The gross annual value of the resources controlled by this Board are stu])endous in their present aggregate. But more sur])rising than the present is the prospective value of this natural food sui)iily. It now has an annual value of approximately three million, eight hundred and seventy tliousand dollars ($3,870,000.00). Under wise conservation plans these resources irre- spective of the oyster resource may l)e largely increased. In the oyster resource, the State has an asset more valuable than any gold mine, for the reason that it is capable of unlimited develo]unent and unlike any gold mine, may be made more valuable each yeai'. More laws have been enacted and more work done for the Conservation of these great resources during the Administration of your Excellency than was done in the whole previous history of the State. The result is that Louisiana, in this respect, leads every other State of the Union. Such pre-eminence is dangerous in the extreme in that a reactionary wave of sentiment may occur in which this pre-eminence may be endangered. We therefore urge with all our might the necessity of great caution in making changes in the system of handling these vast sources of natural wealth which by legislative enactment have been declared to be the ])ro])erty of the people of the State. By the singular bounty of the Providence of God, Louisiana stands pre-eminent in her wealth of natural food supply, that she may remain so is the earnest desire of Yours very res]3ectfully, BOABD OF COMMISSION'ERS FOR THE PROTECTTOX OF BIRDS, GAME AND FISH, Frank M. Miller, President. To His Excellency, Jared Youncx Sanders, Governor of the State of Louisiana. —13— The following list shows the present manner in which the preservation and protection of game is taken care of in the various States of the Union : Supervision UiVder a State Gaime Commission or Board — 18. Arizona New Jersey California New York Connecticut North Carolina Delaware North Dakota Louisiana Ohio Maine Oregon Massachusetts Penns3dvania Minnesota Ehode Island New Hampshire Wyoming Supervision Under a State Game Commissioner or Warden — 24. Alabama . Nebraska Colorado New Mexico Georgia Oklahoma Idaho Soutli Carolina Illinois South Dakota Indiana Tennessee Iowa Texas Kansas Utah Mar^dand Vermont Michigan Washington Missouri West Virginia Montana Wisconsin States Having Local or County Supervision — 6. Arkansas Mississippi Florida Nevada Kentucky Virginia In most all the States in the first two classifications, the head of the department is appointed by the Governor of the State. In Alabama alone, he is elected by the people. The salaries vary from $1,000.00 in New Hamp- shire to $10,000.00 in New York. The terms of office run from two years in Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin, to six years in New York and eight years in Tennessee, the usual term being four years. THE WARDEN SERVICE in the various States is subject to changes, but our latest advices are as follows : ALABAMA Appointed by the Commissioner ; fee that of a constable, one-half the fines, and $3.00 per day when serving under special instructions. CALIFORNIA Appointed by the Board of Supervisors; salary $50.00 to $12-5.00 per month, according to the population of the County ; allowance for traveling expenses, $25.00 per month. This system is in effect in only about one- third of the Counties. In addition the Board of Fish and Game Commis- —14— sioners appoints a number of clejmties at $75.00 per month, but this com- pensation is reguLated by the Board and not by the statute. CONNECTICUT Appointed by Commissioners; fee of $10.00 in case of conviction. FLORIDA Appointed by the Governor on recommendation of County Commis- sioners (on request of 75 free holders) ; sahiry not exceeding $60.00 a month. GEORGIA Appointed by Commissioners; compensation $3.00 ])ev day during time of actual service, payalile from the game protection fund. The County Wardens, in addition to receiving a per diem, are entitled to three-fourths of the fine where they make the arrest and furnish all the evidence, and one-fouth of the fines where they do not furnish the evidence necessary to convict. ILLINOIS One for each County, appointed by the Commissioner; compensation not exceeding $2.00 per day, necessary traveling expenses and one-half of all fines in cases where they file complaints. In addition to its County Wardens, Illinois has 16 State or District Wardens under salaries of $900.00 per annum and necessary expenses. It also provides for the appointment of special wardens who receive half the fines in cases in which they file complaints. KANSAS Appointed by State Warden on request of 10 resident tax payers; fee of $10.00 collected as costs of defendent in case of conviction. KENTUCKY Appointed by the County Judges; compensation residue of all fines in cases prosecuted by them after the payment of costs. MICHIGAN Appointed by the State Warden; compensation such as County Super- visors provide. This State has 10 deputy Game, Fish and Forestry Wardens at $1,000.00 per annum and traveling expenses, and a Chief Deputy at a salary of $1,800.00 per annum and traveling expenses of $1,200.00. Other deputies receive $3.00 per day and traveling expenses. MISSISSIPPI Appointed by Board of Supervisors on recommendation of 10 or more citizens; compensation fixed by Board of Supervisors, paid from County forest and game protective fund made up of all license fees. NEVADA Appointed by JBoard of County Commissioners on ])etition of 20 resident tax payers; salary $20.00 to $100.00 per month, payable from the Fish and Game "Preservation Fund, but in case of deficiency, from' the General Fund of the County. NEW MEXICO Appointed by Territorial Warden; compensation one-half of fines in cases prosecuted or instituted by them. —15— NORTH CAROLINA Various provisions in the different Counties. SOUTH CAROLINA The Chief Warden is authorized to a])point deputies at a salary of not to exceed $1,200.00 and expenses of $(JO(».<)0 ])er annum. TENNESSEE A])])ointed by State Warden; compensation all lines, etc., in cases pro- secuted ])\ them. VERMONT Appointed by the Ct)nnnissioner ; com])ensation not exceedino- $75.00 a month or $3.00 per day and actual expenses. In addition to County Wardens, Deputy Wardens may be appointed at $2.00 per day and necessary expenses. VIRGINIA Magisterial District Warden appointed by tlie Circuit Judge on appli- cation of five resident freeholders ; com])ensati(m, $2.50 assessed against defendants in each conviction. WASHINGTON xlppointed l)y County Commissioners (upon application of 100 tax ])ayers) ; salary, $25.00 to $100.00 per month, ]:)aid from the game protection fund of the county. WISCONSIN Selected l)y Board of Appointment (consisting of the County Judge, District Attorney and County Clerk) and appointed by State Warden ; com- pensation fixed by appointing Board and paid from the County Treasury. The State has -a regular force of not to exceed GO Deputy Game Wardens, one from each Senatorial District and half appointed from the State at large. The salaries are fixed by the State Warden. The salaries are now graded according to character of work and vary from $2.50 to $-4.00 per day. WYOMING One or more for each County, appointed by State Game Warden (sub- ject to approval of State Game Commission) ; compensation, $3.00 per day durino- time of actual service. -10 - Financial statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, from August, 1910, date of incorp;;)ration, to June 30, 1911, inclusive. RECEIPTS Sale of Hunting Licenses $ 75,857.50 Sale of Fishing^Licenses 5,630.00 Sale of Shrimping Licenses 1,683.00 . Sale of Ovstering Operations 6,-J:59.50 Sale of dvster Eentals 12,814.10 Tax of 3 cts. ]3er IjbL, Oysters 19,682.34 Balance from Old Board of Commissioners 2,648.56 Miscellaneous 4,306.90 Total $129,081.86 EXPENDITURES Wardens Salaries $ 53,450.41 Oyster Inspectors Salaries 7,479.10 Launch Salaries and Supplies 11,374.08 Oyster Department Salaries 7,749.90 Office Salaries 10,791.66 Fisheries Department Salaries 1,572.20 Office Expenses 3,603.49 Upkeep of Launches 5,928.07 Printing and Stationery 1,802.78 Conservation Work 3,561.70 Bird and Fish Exhibit 842.16 Postage 441.58 Commissioners Expenses 484.00 Building Account 562.06 Survevs" of Ovster Eeefs 2,198.46 Bills of Old Ovster Commission 14,785.06 $126,626.71 Balance in Bank 2,455.15 $129,081.86 -17— Financial Statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, from Jidy 1st, 1911, to December 31st, 1911. RECEPITS Sale of Hunting- Licenses and Other Eeceipts in Game Department $39,275.32 Oyster Department 26,270.23 Fresh Water Department 3,652.50 Salt Water Department 2,046.00 71,244.05 Balance in Bank July 1st 2,455.15 $73,699.20 EXPENDITURES Wardens Salaries and Expenses $33,185.77 Oyster Department Salaries 9,883.13 Launch Salaries and Upkeep 13,598.97 Office Salaries 8,176.63 Office Expenses 6,077.28 Fish Department Salaries and Expenses 2,949.98 Game Conservation 959.66 Fish Conservation 327.77 75,159.19 Excess 1,459.99 $73,699.20 -18— Since the organization of the Oyster Commission in 1003, and tlie Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish in 1908, there have been taken from the fnnds of these two Boards and paid into the State Treasury, a total amount of $90,633.99, ont of which the General Assembly made appropriations as follows : From the Oyster Commission : 1906 Court Costs in Boundary Suit (Approximately) $13,000.00 1907 Deposited with the State Treasurer for credit of the Good Eoads and School Fund 10,057.51 1907 Paid Special Attorneys, Dymond & Zacherie, in Boundary Suit as per Act 143 of 1906 30,000.00 1908 Paid to the State Board of Engineers in part pay- ment of buoys marking the boundary line between the States of Louisiana and Mississippi 3,000.00 From the Board of Commissioners for tfie Protectiox of Birds, Game and Fish : 1909 Deposited with the State Treasurer to the credit of the General Fund by Act of the Legislature of 1909, 30,000.00 1910 Paid Doullet & Williams, Contractors, balance due on construction of buoys marking the ]\Iississippi- Louisiana boundary line 5,575.48 Total $90,633.99 -19- Act 265 of 1910 creating tliis Board, stipulated tliat we should ])re])are a printed annual report, the same to include an estimate of ])roposed exi)en- dihircs and expenses for the two ensuing years. We therefore l)eo- to state that in oi'der to develo]) the natural resources of the IS'tate committed to our cai'c on a scale commensurate with tlicii' im])ortance we will need the following" sums of money: Two Fish Hatcheries $ 35,000.00 One Biologic Station 5,000.00 Triangulation Work, at least 25,000.00 One Large Power Boat ..*i ll.ooO.OO One Small Power Boat ;!.000.00 Pehuilding Stations 3,000.00 Capt. Doiallut's Bill 2,000.00 Work in Plaquemines Parish on Oyster Iiesource 75,(HM).()0 — $149,000.00 ANNUAL WAGES EXPENDITURES Office Department $ 19,SSO.0O Game Department (iS.400.00 Oyster De])artment l(i,(;80.00 Fish Department 3,700.00 Boat Department 18,520.00 Total for One Year -$128,180.00 Total for 1^vo Years — $250,300.00 OTHER EXPENDITURES Upkeep of Boats $ 7,000.00 Office Expenses 8,000.00 Printing, Stationery and Postage 3,000.00 X'ommissioners Expenses 5(io.()0 Sundries 1. ()()(). 00 Total for One Year $19,500.00 Total for Two Years — $ 39,000.00 Estimated Exi)enditure for Two Years $444,360.00 —20— ESTI5V1ATED VALUE OF ASSETS OYSTER RESOURCES Area of Good BoTTo:\rs Susceptible of Culture. St. Bernard 146,500 Acres Plaquemines 171,000 " Jefferson 28,000 " Lafourche 3,000 " Terrebonne 132,000 " St. Mary 4:0 ^^ Iberia 2 1 Vermilion 90*^ Cameron •''*^*^ 471,9(31 Acres fa' $1.00=$-i71,9fil.00 Area of Xatural Reefs. St Bernard 3,040 Acres Plaquemines 6,000 Terrebonne 3,200 Cameron 500 Point-au-Fer 50,000 " 62,730 Acres (a $3.00=$1SS,330.00 $660,181.00 GAME PRESERVES 13,000 Acres Vermilion Parish (co $5.00 $65,000.00 30,000 Acres Plaquemines Parish ^ 3.00 90,000.00 6,000 Acres Caldwell Parish @ 5.00 30,000.00 —$185,000.00 HOUSES, ETC. Cameron, 1 Station, 1 House ^"o A^ilue Chef Menteur, 1 House $1,300.00 Eigolets, I House 500.00 Dunbar, 1 House 300,00 Office Furniture 2,100.00 Exhibit 2,500.00 — $ 6,600.00 BOATS 16 Boats of A^arious Sizes 17,87000 Grand Total Estimated Value of Assets $869,651.00 —21— CHIEF SURVEYOR'S REPORT To THE Honorable Eoakd of Com.missioxehs for THE Protection of Rfuds, Ca:me and Fish. Gentlemen : In accordance with yonr instructions, I liave tlie honor to sul)niit the following report : By virtne of Act 189 of 1910, the Oyster Commission of Louisiana was consolidated with tlie Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, and new officers were appointed to administer its affairs. The present Commission, immediately after its appointment and organi- zation, set a])ont to make a thorough investigation of the Oyster industry of the State, and to inaugurate a new system of management. The industry has, in the past two years, shown a consistent and satis- factory growth. 4,451.38 acres of new hottoms were leased and 1,433,205 barrels of oysters were gathered. The crop of 1911 being 661,094 barrels and that of 1913, 771.111 liarrels — showing an incease of 110,017 barrels. FACTORIES AND SHUCKING PLANTS Canning Factories in Operation. Xo. Factories Oysters Canned 1911 5 308,313 barrelrf 1913 6 413,963 barrels Shucking Plants or Paw Shops. Oysters shucked ...Number and shi])]ied 1911 51 353.781 barrels 1913 57 357,148 barrels The shucking or opening of raw oysters for shipment out of the State has developed and increased ra])idly and is now a most important branch of the industry. PATROL BOATS The boats '^'Louisiana", "Poyal Tern", "Opelousas" and "Baton Pouge" have rendered active and efficient service in ])atr()ling the waters of Lake Borgne and Mississippi Sound. SURVEY OF NATURAL REEFS A survey was made of tlie natural reefs in the State during September, October and November, 1910, and, in conformity with Section 6 of the foregoing Act, the following reefs were set aside for public fishing and seed purposes : St. Bernard Parish — Grand Pass, Creole Gap and Cabbage Peefs ^... 3,040 Acres Plaquemines Parish — Quarantine and California Bays 6. 000 Acres Terrel^onne Parish — Point-au-Fer, Bav Junop and South and East part of Sister Lake 53,300 Acres Cameron Parish — Mouth of Calcasieu Eiver 500 Acres Total 63,740 Acres 90 HISTORY OF THE OYSTER LAWS OF STATE The earliest wliite settlers of Louisiana found oysters growing naturally on the reefs and these were gathered for local consumption. Gradually these persons, in answer to commercial demands, hegan to supply the 'New Orleans market and those living too far from the reefs to personally fish their own supply. As the population increased and the demand grew larger, more people engaged in the industry. It was soon learned, however, owing to the most crude and wasteful manner of fishing and culling, that the supply was gradually becoming exhausted and the reefs exterminated. This created dissatisfaction and engendered discussion. Legal restric- tions must be applied to save the industry, was the consensus of opinion. Accordingly, for the first time in the history of the State, the Legislature was appealed to and in 1870 it passed Act No. 18, which made a close season from April 1st to Septeml^er 15th, and provided penalties for the taking or fishing of oysters during this time. In 1871, by Act No. 91, the close season was made from May 1st to September 15th. The law embodied in these Acts was never enforced, and the depletion and destruction of the reefs continued rapidly. So in 1886, the Legislature was again applied to for relief and Act No. 106 of that year was passed. This Act authorized the leasing of water bottoms, not to exceed thi-ee acres to any one person or corporation, the imposing of licenses and taxes on boats and tongmen (one-half of the net amount derived from these rents, licenses and taxes to be equally divided between the parishes and the State) and placing the oyster industry of each parish in the absolute control of the Police Jury of that parish. This law was detrimental to the industry. The oysters within the confines of a parish were considered the exclusive ]iroperty of that parish and could be fished only by her own people, consequently frequent clashes occurred between citizens of one parish entering that of another in search of market- able oysters and seed for bedding purposes. In 1892, this Act was superseded by Act No. 110 of that year which made no change beyond increasing the area subject to lease from three (3) to ten (10) acres. This Act was superseded by Act 131 of 1896. The only material change made was to relieve from taxation oysters bedded on leased bottoms. All of these laws were disregarded and fell into contempt. In the meantime, the supply fell short of the demand as the natural reefs (the only source of supply) were being depleted and destroyed. New legislation was imperative, consequently the matter was discussed in the Legislature during the sessions of 1900 and a Committee (three (3) from the House and two (2) from the Senate) was appointed to examine into the oyster industry of the State and to formulate a bill for its im- provement and present same at the next session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly which convened in 1902 received the report of the Committee appointed in 1900. This report, coupled with recommendations made by Mr. H. F. ]\Ioore of the United States Fish Commission, was the basis of a general oyster law. The law was materially amended in 1904, 1906 and 1910, and as it now stands on the statute books. ^Messrs. H. F. IMoore and T. K. B. Tope of the United States Bureau of Fisheries make the followin^^- eoininent on tlie ]n-esent hiw in tlieir "Oyster Culture and Experiments and Investigations in Louisiana." "The fundamental feature of the new law was the creation of a State Oyster Commission having sole jurisdiction, in oysters and cognate matters, over the entire coast, insuring consistency and uniformity of administration, and endowed with ample police powers to enforce the laws which under the old regime were disregarded with impunity." The eifects of the law were almost immediately a])])areut in the growth of the oyster industry. Prior to its passage jurisdiction over the oyster hottoms was, as noted above, lodged solely in the Police Juries of the several coastal parishes, with the result that the administration of the laws was contradictory and in- effective. The potential wealth lying concealed beneath the tide waters of the State was not appreciated and the oyster industry was neither pro- tected nor fostered. Partly on account of the unusually favoral)le natural conditions under which the oyster industry is conducted in Louisiana, l)ut largely by reason of the protection which the laws accord to the natural beds and the en- couragement which they extend to oyster culture, the oyster fishing of the State has made extraordinary progress since the establishment of the Com- mission. In the five years preceding the enactment of the first oyster law, the increase in the production, which was mainly from natural beds, was 20 per cent., while in the first five years folloAving the passage of the act, the increase was 154 P''>' c'nt. The natural l)eds of the State are now priiducing about two-fifths of the output, while the remaining three-fifths are taken from planted beds. The increase in the area of the bottoms leased since the enactment of the present laws has been astonishing. From 1885 to 1903. under i)arisli administration, 521 leases, covering 2,820 acres had been executed, a great many of which had lapsed. To-day there are 1,7(52 leases covering 17,072.9-1: acres. Xature has been more bountiful to us in our water wealth than to any State in the Union. Greater possibilities are here offered, in the oyster industry, than elsewhere, but it will require persistent labor, intelligence, and capital to properly develop this industry, and, more than all, proper laws judiciously administered. OYSTER CONDITIONS OF TO-DAY The coast line of Louisiana, bcu'dering on the Gulf of Mexico, comprises the following oyster producing parishes: St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, Iberia, A^erniilion and Cameron. Their shores are largely indented with bays, lakes and bavous. where the tide ebbs and flows daily, mixing the salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico with the fresh waters of the Mississippi Eiver, its tributaries, and other streams, thus producing ideal conditions for oyster life and culture. ST. BERNARD PARISH This is the most easterly of the oyster "|jroducing parishes. It has an area of 146,500 acres of oyster producing bottoms susceptible of oyster culture — extending from the Mississip])i l)oundary line on the I^orth to Plaquemines Parish on the South, and from the Chandeleur Sound on the East to the zone where the water becomes too fresh to support oyster life. —24— This region is known as the "Louisiana Marsh." The largest natural reefs in the State, from a coininereial Yie\v])oint, are located in this parish and are known as Creole Gap, Grand Pass and Cabbage Beefs. These reefs, in the past, and are now supplying the stock for the steam packing plants at Dunbar and Violet, also oysters for the raw trade shipments. Continual dredging and the lax enforcement of the culling laws has, however, materially affected the output of these reefs. The remaining beds in this parish, especially those in Bay Boudreau and adjacent waters have, up to the past two years, yielded large quantities of oysters, principally for the raw trade and for the New Orleans market. These beds have been overworked and are now practically depleted. Large areas were formerly leased in this section — several 1,(H)() acres each — but have since been abandoned by the lessees. Only a small ]iortion remains under cultivation and lease as shown by the following : 'ISTumber of acres under lease at present time 58S.82 Number of active leases at present time 17 Average size of lease in acres 34. 03 Conditions are now changed. We have a liberal leasing law coupled with the fact that the natural lieds are becoming depleted and are uual)le to supply the demand — hence the oystcrmen will l)e com])elled to lease and cultivate liis own stock. The waters of St. Bci'unrd Parish offer excelk'ut o])])ortunities for tlie cultivation of oysters on a large scale, especially for the steam ])acking trade. The depleted reefs are now subject to lease and can, with care and cultivation, be made to yield large returns. PLAQUEMINES PARISH The water bottoms embraced in the area of tliis parish extend from St. Bernard on the East to the East shore of Barataria Bay on the West and on each side of the Mississip]u Biver to its mouth, and contains 171.000 acres of oyster bottoms capable of ])roducing oysters. The natural reefs in this parish are located in Quarantine and California Bays. The oysters on these reefs are of no commercial value, owing to their dense growth, and can only be used when broken u]i and trans]ilanted to bottoms more favorable for their develoi)ment. Tlie following shows the aiuount of Ijottoms now under lease in Plaque- mines Parish : Xuinber of acres under lease at present time 6,1:04.08 Xuml)er of active leases at present time 1,038 Average size of lease in acres ().17 Here we find that the rentals have lieen ]iaid ])roiu])tly and a large ])er- centage of leases are retained and w(u-ked. This is due: 1st. To the al)sence of any ])ublic reefs of comuiercial value — thus forcing cultivation on leased l)eds, thereby ])ro(hicing a superior quality of oyster. 2nd. An active denumd, with good prices, for oysters from tins territory by the Xew Orleaus market. The oyster industry in this ])arish is carried on more systematically than in any other part of the State. A great many naturalized Austrians are engaged in the business who devote their entire time to ]:)lanting and gather- ing ovsters. j\Iost of them live with their families in sul)stantial liouses H^hich they have built in close proximity to their bedding grounds. —25 — JEFFERSON PARISH This parish includes witliin its limits Barataria Bay (Grand Lake) and adjacent waters extending to the West shore of Ba}^ Tambour and Bay des Islettes and contain 28,000 acres of oyster bottoms. Natural Eeefs — There are no natural reefs in this parish. Barataria Bay (Grand Lake), Bay des Islettes and Bay Tambour at one time contained large natural reefs, but these are now extinct. The cause of destruction of these reefs appears to have been overfishing probably by the Booth Company, who operated a cannery at Bayou Brulot, some eighteen years ago, and the increased salinity of the Avater, due to the improvement of the levee system which has decreased the volume of fresh water flowing into the bay. From observation, it is found that the water favoral)lc for oyster life and culture is moving inland along the coast line of the Parishes of Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrcl)onne. This is due to artificial changes in the drainage system, levee improvements, closure of Bayou Lafourche and the washing away of the chain of outlying islands extending from Grand Island to Last Island. Oysters are now growing and leases have been made in waters of Lafourche and Terrel)onne which, six years ago, carried fresh water at all times. I/p to 1906, no oysters were planted or cultivated in Jefferson Parish, due to the foregoing conditions. In 1906, under the direction of Messrs. Moore and Pope, Assistants, United States Bureau of Fisheries, who were making experiments and investigations of the oyster bottoms of Louisiana, the Oyster C*ommission of Louisiana planted 60 barrels of unculled oysters at the upper end of Barataria Bay (Grand Lake) and Bayou St. Denis. The planting of these oysters has resulted in the rehalhlitation of the oyster industry in that parish. The upper part of Barataria Bay, TvTorth of Bayou du Fon, and adjacent waters offers exceptional op])ortunities for oyster culture. Lving South of Bayou du Fon, and extending to the Gulf, the water has become so salty and is so infested with the very destructive enemy of the oyster, the snail or borer. Purpura, that the fisliermen have abandoned all of their claims in this area. In order to rehal)ilitate this area, which is now l)arren, it will be necessary to reduce the salinity or density of the water l)y fresh water from the Mississippi Eiver. This can be aec()m]ilished l)y building a lock at some favoral)le point on the river. The expense of such an undertaking would be am]ily re]-)aid in making productive a very large area of the finest bottoms in the State. Water bottoms under lease and cultivation in Jefferson Parish : Number of acres under lease at present time 527.43 Number of active leases at present time 59 Average size of lease in acres 8.97 The planting of shells for cultch is carried on in this parish more extensively than in any other part of the State. The fishermen, from interviews with them, state that the cost of bedding shells is much less than that of transplanting oysters and the results are far more satisfactory. LAFOURCHE PARISH The oyster regions of Lafourche includes jrart of Caminada Bay, Lake Eaccourci and Timbalier Bay. Natural Reefs — There are no natural reefs in this parish. —26— The beds at one time existing in Caminada Bay are now extinct and in the same condition as those in the waters of Jefferson Parish. The reefs in Timbalicr, wliich at one time furnished employment for a large number of fishermen and supplied oysters for transplanting on the leased beds in Plaquemines and Lafourche Parishes, are now practically extinct. These reefs were destroyed by overfishing and the removal and transplanting of uncullecl oysters to private beds, also by the ravages of the snail or borer, due to the closure of Bayou Lafourche. The closure of Bayou Lafourche has destroyed a large area of oyster producing bottoms in this region. It had hitherto supplied the fresh water that sustained oyster life, but since its closure the water in Timbalier Bay has become so densely saline as to inhil)it the growth of young oysters. Lafourche Parish has 3,000 acres of oyster liottoms susceptible of oyster culture. , The following shows leases made and acreage now under cultivation in Lafourche : "Number of acres under lease at the present time 397.01 Number of active leases at present time 32 Average size of lease in acres 13.40 The principal leases and beds are now located in Lake Eaccourci, which six years ago was fresh water, and the West shore of Timbalier Bay. Lafourche Parish was at one time a large oyster producing ]iarish, but at the present time very few oysters are cultivated there and tlie outlook for an increased output is not very encouraging unless fresh water through Bayou Lafourche can be secured. TERREBONNE PARISH The oyster producing bottoms of Terrcl)onne extend from the West shore of Timbalier Bay on the East to the Atchafalaya Bay on tlie West, including Point-au-Fer Eeef, and contains 122.000 acres of oyster reefs and oyster bottoms susceptible of cultivation. jSTatural Eeefs — The natural reefs, exclusive of Point-au-Fer. are located in Bay Jmiop and Sister Lake. The oysters on these reefs are of a rather inferior equality and shape, being somewhat of a racoon tyjie. Unculled oysters are taken extensively from them for transplanting on ]u-ivate l)eds in Terrel^onne, Jefferson and as far East as Bayou Cook in Pla(|uemines. They are 1)eginning to show the effects of overfishing, and stringent measures shouki l)e taken to enforce the culling laws in order to preserve and perpetuate them. Point-au-Fer Eeef at the mouth of the Atchafalaya Eiver is the largest natural reef in the State — containing ap])roximately 50,000 acres. The oysters on this reef are of no commercial value di:e to their present crowded state and are worthless in their present condition. They never reach mar- ketable size as they are destroyed annually by fi-esh water during the high stages of the Atchafalaya Eiver. Shells for cultch have been used to a limited extent in this parish, but the planters de]iend almost entirely on the natural reefs for their supply of seed, and instead of assisting in the per]ietuation of the natural oyster supply they aid in its depletion and destruction. Terrebonne offers the greatest possiljilities for oyster culture. It has a large area of fine bottoms and depleted reefs, which can now l)e leased under the present law and Imilt u]) and cultivated with young oysters taken from Point-au-Fer Eeef. The fnllnwiiia- shows leases and acreao-c now iinrlor enltivation in Terrehonne : Nuinht'i- of acres under lease at tlie ])resent time 9.051.05 Xiiniher of active leases