A pilot entering the BAZ landing pattern in contact with ATC had a near miss with a departing aircraft. Without radar ATC stated they could not issue traffic advisories.

Narrative

I had flown to New Braunfels using flight following. Approach cancelled and I squawked 1200 and contacted the Tower at BAZ. I was told to fly a right hand pattern on Runway 35. I was northwest of the airport and I was losing altitude to get to 1;600 FT. As I passed 2;000 FT; another aircraft was climbing and was coming directly at me. I banked to the right. I reported the near miss to the Tower and was told that they did not have radar and did not know where other aircraft were at the time. I proceeded to land; picked up a passenger who had dropped his aircraft off for repairs and departed back to my home base. There is a lot of student activity at BAZ and I think it would be safer if the pilots were talking more and keeping everyone advised as to their position. More like UNICOM. The Tower makes one feel that they are controlling the aircraft in the local area and that a pilot would be warned of other aircraft. I was looking and also going through my checklist. The aircraft was almost head on and did not provide a good visual target until we were very close.