Department of Fish and Wildlife Records Guide, 1901-1987
Page Content
Department of Fish and Wildlife Agency History Department of Fish and Wildlife functions, significant historical developments.
Scope and ContentSummary of the major types of records, overall date spans and quantities, and research information.
Record Series Descriptions
Department of Fish and Wildlife records with series title, functions, date spans, quantity.
1912-1922
Boxes 7-8
1.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by date, thereunder alphabetical by correspondent's name or topic
Series documents communications between Fish Commission officials and public and private parties, including corporate entities. Records consist of incoming and outgoing letters, postcards, telegrams, maps, blueprints, photographs, and petitions. Series includes information on dam construction, fish breeding and spawning, hatchery operations, and licensing requirements. Subjects include fishery management, fishing licenses, and fish populations.
1905-1906
Box 8
.10 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by year
Series is used to document activities, programs, and projects undertaken by the Fish Commission. This series consists of two annual reports. Information includes report date, narrative summaries of fish catches and production, statistical charts, arrest summary, Attorney General opinions, hatchery reports, permit summaries, licenses issued, financial statements, and a statewide operations summary. Subjects include fish laws and policy, fishing license, fishing code violations, trout and salmon production, hatchery management, and commission finances.
1913-1915
Box 8
.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by month
Series summarizes the activities of the Bonneville Central Hatchery that were reported to the master fish warden. Series consists of two bound volumes containing weather, individual pond, and narrative reports. Information includes species counts, maintenance and construction costs, and payroll data. Subjects include hatchery management, fish populations, and fish breeding and inspection. The volumes are in poor condition and some of the information is barely legible.
1901-1977
Boxes 1-3
3 cubic feet (includes 1 oversized-volume)
Arrangement: chronological by meeting date
Series is used to record the proceedings of the Fish and Game Commissions regular meetings. Series includes name of commissioners present, meeting agendas, statements, reports, findings, motions, and resolutions. Issues discussed include commercial fishing and game laws, establishing dates for fishing and hunting seasons, setting fish and game limits, fish hatchery operations, wildlife management, game protection, and licensing fee collection methods.
1923-1926
Box 8
.10 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by audit date
Series is used to verify, account for, and summarize the Fish Commission's finances. The series consists of audit reports done by an independent certified public accountant which includes summaries on sea lion and hatchery funds, bank balances, cash on hand, disbursements, fish poundage tax, and discrepancies.
1930-1934
Box 36
.5 cubic feet (1 volume)
Arrangement: by free license category
Series documents the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses, free of change, to individuals based on veteran or pioneer status. Series consists of one bound ledger containing date license issued, license number, licensee name and address, and renewal date. Free license categories include World War I, Spanish-American War, Indian War, and Civil War veterans. An additional category is included for Pioneer licenses. Subjects include veterans benefits and fish and game licenses.
1921-1931, 1936-1938
Boxes 37-38
2 cubic feet (3 volumes)
Arrangement: chronological by year, thereunder alphabetical by county
Series is used by the Game Commission to document all county court cases regarding game law violations. Records consist of three bound volumes containing case number, trial date, warden name, trial location, defendant name and address, description of offense, case result, sentence, fine amount, judge name, and record of confiscated property. Subjects include game code violations and game protection.
1913-1922
Boxes 4-6
2.50 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by year, thereunder alphabetical by hatchery name
Series is used to document communications between the Director of Hatcheries and the individual hatchery superintendents. Series includes incoming and outgoing letters; telegrams; and reports related to hatchery operations, dam and feeding pond construction, and fishery studies. Also included is the annual budget summaries for hatchery districts. Subjects include hatchery management, fishery equipment and supplies, and fish populations.
1921
Box 31
.10 cubic feet
Arrangement: not arranged
Series documents the proceedings of the committee at the January 29, 1921 meeting in Seattle, Washington. Series includes meeting date, statements, discussion, motions, and resolutions. Subjects include fish hatchery management, fish law and policy, and fishing license requirements and restrictions.
1901-1915
Boxes 8, 40-44
2.25 cubic feet (6 volumes -1 volume is in Container 8)
Arrangement: chronological by licensee name or by license type issued
Series documents cash received for fishing licenses. Series contains five bound volumes arranged by licensee name (1901-1915) and one bound volume (container 8) arranged by license type issued (1909-1912). Information includes name, district, date, license number, license type, fees collected, and cumulative totals. Subjects include fish licenses, fish catching, and the fishing industry.
1919-1931
Boxes 9-31
22.50 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by year, thereunder alphabetical by correspondent's name or topic
Series is used to document communications between the master fish warden and fish commissioners, deputy fish wardens, hatchery superintendents, federal and state officials, commercial fish companies, and private citizens. Records include letters, postcards, telegrams, petitions, reports, maps, blueprints, and photos. The majority of the series is correspondence and although much is routine, there is some correspondence related to dam and hatchery construction, land ownership, stream pollution, stream and river closure, fish code violations, and licensing requirements. Subjects include fishery management and resources, commercial and recreational fishing licenses, the fishing industry, and fish codes and policies.
1901-1904
Box 8
.05 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by entry date
Series is used to document the daily activities of the master fish warden. Records consist of six ledger sheets containing dated entries written by master fish warden. Information includes date and location of entry, as well as, a short description of entry account. Subjects include fishing violations, egg counts, fish migration and spawning, stream examination, and hatchery management.
1916-1924
Boxes 50-55
2 cubic feet (6 volumes)
Arrangement: by hatchery, thereunder chronological by entry date
Series documents the breeding and spawning patterns at various fish hatcheries on a pond-by-pond basis. Series consists of six bound volumes containing hatchery name, month of report, pond name, specie name, number of fry in pond, kind and amount of food, and number of fry added or lost. Subjects include hatchery management and fish stocking, inspection, and spawning.
1925
Box 31
.10 cubic feet
Arrangement: not arranged
Series documents the convention activities of Oregon salmon hatchery superintendents on February 3-4, 1925 in Portland, Oregon. Series includes statements, meeting location and date, matters discussed, and reports on various aspects of fish hatcheries. Subjects include pond construction, water supply protection, egg development, liberation of fry, and poundage fees.
1958
.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: none
Series documents observations of the area around the Snake River between Oregon and Idaho during the construction of the Oxbow Dam in 1958. The dam was completed in 1961 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The silent, color film measures 452 feet and was produced by the Oregon Fish Commission.
1936-1940
Box 6
.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by year thereunder alphabetical by county
Series documents the allocation of Predatory Animal Eradication Fund to each county. The Predatory Animal Eradication Program was administered by the Game Commission in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to control the threat of predatory animals (cougars, wolves, and coyotes) to livestock. Series includes program director apportionment order, annual apportionment ledger, state treasurer's receipt date and number, account name, and fund purpose statement. Subjects include wildlife management, predatory animal control, and livestock protection and preservation.
1948-1982
Box 3
.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: alphabetical by type of publication
Series documents agency-produced publications about fish and wildlife issues which are widely disseminated to interested parties. Records may include guidebooks, pamphlets, brochures, biennial reports, newsletters, and books. Subjects include Oregon commercial fishing laws, wildlife and game codes, Rogue Basin Commission investigation, environmental impact analysis, offshore oil drilling and its effects on fish population, migratory fish movement, and hunter safety.
1924-1930
Box 31
.30 cubic feet
Arrangement: chronological by date of bounty claim
Series is used by the master fish warden to verify the number of seal and sea lion scalps claimed by hunters when issuing bounties. Series includes claim forms, affidavits, and letters containing claimant's name and address, number of seal or sea lion scalps claimed, claim date, and total bounty sum. Subjects include fish populations, fish policy, fishery management and conservation, predatory animals, and endangered species.
1914-1925
Boxes 45-49
2 cubic feet (5 volumes)
Arrangement: by hatchery name, thereunder chronological by entry date
Series is used to document trout and salmon egg production at hatcheries. Series consists of five bound volumes (one trout volume, 1915-1921 and four salmon volumes, 1914-1925). Information includes hatchery name; date of report; name of fish specie; quantity of eggs taken and shipped; number of fry hatched, lost, shipped, and planted; monthly totals; and signature of hatchery superintendent. Subjects include hatchery resources, fish populations, fish breeding and inspection, and the fishing industry.