An executive or administrative public official of any state granting similar privileges to such an officer of this commonwealth may hunt any bird or mammal or may fish in any of the inland waters of the commonwealth if he holds a special complimentary certificate entitling him so to do, which certificate the director, with the approval of the governor, is hereby authorized to issue, and the holder of such certificate shall have the same rights and privileges and be subject to the same duties and penalties as if he held a sporting license.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, § 15