Ocm39986872-1913-HB-1838.Pdf (2.013Mb)

HOUSE No. 1838 Clje Commontoealtf) of c^aosacfnisetts. Commission on Economy and Efficiency Room 110, State House, Boston, Jan. 29, 1913. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled. The Commission on Economy and Efficiency, in accordance with chapter 719 of the Acts of the year 1912, respectfully sub- mits the following report concerning the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, with suggestions for legislation as shown in the bill appended hereto. We recommend the appropriation of $112,610 for the expenses of the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, to be expended from Dec. 1, 1912, to jSTov. 30, 1913, according to the following estimate Commissioners’ compensation, $6,130 00 Printing, including annual report telegraph, telephone, traveling, office and other necessary expenses (chapter 438, Acts of 1902), 4,175 00 Clerical services, 4,140 00 Three new game wardens, 3,000 00 Enforcement of laws, propagation and distribution of fish, mammals, birds and shellfish, ...... 72,365 00 Stocking ponds (section 19, chapter 91, Revised Laws), . 500 00 Stocking brooks (section 5, chapter 91, Revised Laws), . 100 00 Protection of lobsters (chapter 408, Acts of 1904), . 2,500 00 Establishment of fish hatchery (chapter 6, Resolves of 1912), 8,000 00 Establishment of State bird and game preserves (chapter 271, Acts of 1911), 7,500 00 Protection of wild birds and quadrupeds (chapter 410, Acts of 1911), 4,200 00 Increasing quantity food fish (chapter 140, Resolves of 1912), Total 112,610 00 0 ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY. Jan. We believe that a single Commissioner on Fisheries and Game for the Commonwealth would be much more efficient and render better service than the three commissioners as now con- stituted, for the following and other reasons: 1. The present commissioners are co-ordinate in authority and choose their chairman. 2. There is inevitably a wide difference of opinion as to what matters should be decided by the full Board and what should be decided by the chairman, or by a commissioner acting alone, resulting in (a ) unnecessary delay to the public, and ( b ) liability of the remaining members being slighted. 3. The necessity of referring matters to the full Board often causes tardiness in closing business transactions. 4. Persons insist oftentimes that the adverse decision of a member be referred to the full Board, thus causing delay. 5. There is practical difficulty in agreeably assigning and arranging work for the different members and the office force, which is now overworked. We find, also, that the commissioners’ time is not fully and profitably occupied with the work related to that department. A deputy could very often and very properly care for certain phases of outside work which now occupy the time of the full Board. 6. Division of responsibility causes lack of responsibility to the public. 7. With three commissioners having co-ordinate powers there arises at times a degree of rivalry between the different sections of the State, and between different kinds of persons, as to their respective representation on the Board, and their relative parti- cipation in the benefits to be derived from the activities of the Board itself. 8. It is essential, in order to achieve the best results, that the chairman, who must necessarily shoulder the real responsibility, should select his co-workers and subordinates. 9. Inasmuch as many trivial matters must be examined or studied two or three times in order to secure action by the full Board, the insurance thus furnished for correct decision is too often not worth the valuable time wasted. 10. A single commissioner, with trained and competent secretary or deputies, we believe would give more efficient service 1913.] HOUSE Xo. 1838. 3 in this department of the State’s service, and would create economies in administration and greater ease and directness in securing results. 11. Inasmuch as many important matters are necessarily decided after consultation with or advice from the Governor and Council, the Attorney-General, the Auditor or the Treasurer, competent advice is always within ready access. The increasing special knowledge required by modern conservation, and the wise administration and care of the State’s natural assets of the fisheries, birds and quadrupeds, mollusks, etc., are now on every hand apparent. We deplore the present tendency of too facile changes in the laws relative to birds. The only proper basis for the protection of game birds, wild fowl, and, indeed, all animals, is an economic one, and must be based upon carefully constructed and properly enforced laws for the conservation of all species for the benefit of future generations of our citizens, rather than upon local opinion. In this connection we find that the State is greatly in need of more game wardens, especially in the Cape district, to aid in the enforcement of the laws for the protection of fish and game; and we therefore recommend, as indicated above, a sum of not less than $3,000 for the employment of three new game wardens. This expenditure for the protection of fish and game is clearly a wise economy, tending to prevent the annihilation of birds and other animals valuable to mankind, which might otherwise become extinct. It may be said that Massachusetts and her sister States have suffered irreparable loss by carelessly allowing, for generations past, indiscriminate waste of animal life. Each species should be properly utilized and increased, not destroyed; and, under proper conditions, the work of this department can be made of incalculable benefit to the coming generations of the people of the Commonwealth, and yield adequate returns for the public moneys expended from the treasury. In view of the foregoing statements, and in view of special fitness, we respectfully recommend the retention of Dr. George W. Field (now chairman), and that he be paid a salary of 4 ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY. [Jan. $5OOO per annum, to become a single Commissioner of Fish- eries and Game for the Commonwealth, and in this regard we submit the followi George Wilton Field, born in N’orth Bridgewater, Mass., Sept. 29, 1863. Prepared for college in pu blic schools of Brockton. Graduated A.8., Brown University, ,1887, ai d A.M.. 1890; Delta Phi, Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi : Ph.D., Joh is Hopkins University, 1892. Assist- ant in biology, Johns Hopkins I niversity, 1891-92. Special investi- gator of marine biology at Smith: ionian Table, Naples Zoological Sta- tion, and student at University f Munich, 1892-93, under Prof. B. Hertwig and Bruno Hofer. As; oeiate professor of cellular biology, Brown, 1893-96. Head of the Department of Biology, Rhode Island Experiment Station, 1896-01. Lecturer, 1901-02, and instructor in economic biology, 1902-03, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1903-04, biologist Massachusetts Commissioners on Fisheries and Game and chairman since 1904. Special work has been upon birds, edible mollusks, lobsters, including their foods and enemies, and the biologic conditions governing propagation and utilization as a human food supply. In 1888 was collector in southern Florida of birds for Smithsonian Institution and of marine animals for Brown University. Since 1885 has investigated problems of marine biology at laboratories of United States Bureau of Fisheries at Woods Hole, Beaufort, N. C., and at other localities from Labrador to the West Indies. Traveled ex- tensively in this and other countries. Since 1904 has directed the development and operation of the fish hatcheries and marine stations of the Massachusetts commission, and of the biological survey of the public waters of the State. He has made special investigations and reports as expert biologist, among others, for Charles River Dam Com- mission, 1903; for shellfish commissioners of Rhode Island, 1904; and New Jersey, 1910, upon oysters and quahaugs; upon the propagation f oysters in Point Judith Pond, Rhode Island. 1896-99; propagation if clams in Rhode Island, 1898; lobsters, 1903; has studied ovster’s. clams, quahaugs, scallops, throughout their range, and directed investigations. In 1905 studied the frozen herring industry in Newfoundland in its relation to the Gloucester fisheries; results of these and other investigations published in annual reports and in scientific journals in United States, England and Germany. Translator and edit Haeckel’s “Plankton Studies:” R. Hertwig’s “ Lehrbuch der Zodlos’ie. et al. Collaborator, “ Annales de Biologie Laeustre,” Brussels; di- rector of Massachusetts Audubon Society and member of numerou: scientific associations. Delegate to International Fisheries Congress 1908, and to National Conservation Congress in 1911 and 1912. I low, American Association for the Advancement of Science: president 1913.] HOUSE — No. 1838. I 5 National Association of Shellfish Commissioners, 1911-12; secretary National Association of Fish and Game Commissioners, 1910- corresponding secretary, American Fisheries Society, 1912- ; vice president, National Association of Conservation Commissioners, 1911- . For the past eight years chairman of the Massachusetts Commis sioners on Fisheries and Game. CONDITIONS IX THE COMMONWEALTH CONCEBNING FOOD AXI Bait Mollusks, Oystees, Clams, Quahaugs, Scallops, WIMIvLES, ETC. We believe the present laws relative to food and bait mollusl oysters, clams, quabaiigs, scallops, winkles and others are unwise and inefficient, and do not create necessarv economies or con- serve the welfare of the public now or in the future, for the following reason; (1) Eights of fishing and cultivating may now be leased from the selectmen of a town, who, by regulation or otherwise, limit this right to citizens of their own town, thus excluding worthy citizens from other sections of the State (2) The money derived from such leasing goes, not to the State for the public benefit, or ven to the town, but by law to the “ selectmen for their own v e.” (Section 105, chapter 91, Eevised Laws.) This leads to (a) uncer nty among the lease holders, because the selectmen are eh ve and subject to frequent changes, thus resulting- in a towwn policyv which is unstable: and fails to protect the lease 1holders.filers.

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