An initiative sponsored by sportsman in 1932 separated the food fish (managed by the Department of fisheries whose director was appointed by the Governor) and game fish (managed by department of game with the director appointed by a 6 member commission).

In 1987 the Department of Game the Department of Wildlife formalizing an increased focus on non-game critters.

In 1994 things swung full circle with the two agencies being replaced by a single agency - today's Department of fish and wildlife. The two component agencies have two very different cultures with Fisheries with a heavy centralized structure and Game a much more regional/local structure. In regard to the anadromous salmonids the two agencies also have very different philosophies.

Curt