The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-03
CHAPTER o21-s. F. NO. AS.

CHAPTER 221-S. F. NO. AIS.
AN ACT for the preservation, propaga-
ton, protection, taking, use and trans
portation of game and fish.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Minnesota:
Section 1. There is hereby created
board to be known as the board of game
and fish commissioners of the State of
Minnesota, which board shall consist of
five Co members, to be appointed by the
governor. They shall serve without COM
penSation, but each shall be reimbursed
his actual expenses, certified by him, with
statement of items to have been neces-
sarily incurred in the performance of his
official duties in the business Of the board,
not to exceed seventy-fve C75.0O dollars
annually, except as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2 The terms of the present mem
bers of the board of game and fish com
misSioners of the State of Minnesota shall
continue the same as if this act had not
been passed, and at the eXpirationS of the
terms of office of the present commission
erS the governor shall appoint five 90
commissioners for two years and biennial
ly thereafter The governor shall fill va
cancieS by appointment, the person ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy to hold for the
residue of the term only.
Sec. 3. Said board of game and fish
commissioners shall be given a suitable
room in the capitol building for an office,
with proper furniture therefor, and also
sufficient stationery and blanks for the
transaction of the business Of the board.
Sec 4. The board of game and fish
commissioners shall have general charge
of the following public matters, and nee
essary powers therefor:
l. The protection, propagation and
breeding of game and fish of such species
and varieties as they may deem Of value
to the people of the state.
2 The collection and diffusion of
such statistics and information as they
deem useful in regard to the protection
and propagation of game and fish, and to
take charge of and keep all reports,
books, papers and documents which shall
in the discharge of their duties hereunder
come into their possession and control.
g. Said board shall biennially, on or
before the first Monday in December
prior to a meeting of the legislature, pre-
pare and present to the governor report
showing what had been done by it during
the prior two fiscal years, the amount of
money received by it and from what
sources, the amount of money expended
by it and for what purposes, with such
recommendations for legislative action as
it may deem proper.
4. The control and management or
all state fish hatcheries. the grounds
used therefor, whether owned or leased,
the buildings, ponds, apparatus and all
other property belonging to or held by
g. The purchase and establishment
of new hatcheries in like manner, when
appropriations shall be made by law to
purchase and maintain the same.
g. The receiving from the United
States commissioner of fisheries, or other
persons. of all spawn or fry donated to
by purchase, exchange or otherwise. TO
procure and receive fish, spawn or fry,
and to distribute the same by stocking the
waters of this state. and to take such
measures as shall in their judgment best
promote the supply of food fish in the
waters of Minnesota.
Z. The taking. of fish from the
public waters of this state at all seasons
of the year for artificial propa CATION and
stocking Of other waters of this state.
s. Said board may employ COM
cries at such compensation as the board
may fix, not to exceed twelve hundred
Q200) dollars per annum. whose duty it
shall be to devote his entire time to the
work of fish propagation and distribution
under the direction Of said board,
He may be removed at any time by said
board. Said board may employ such as
sistants for said superintendent of fisher
les as the eXigencies of the work may
require at such compensation as the board
may fix.
o. 1t shall be the duty of the board to
enforce the laws Of this state for the pro-
lection, preservation, propagation, taking,
USE possession and transportation of the
birds, animals and fish in this act men,
have the power and authority to appoint
such persons as game wardens for such
periods and at such compensation as said
board shall determine. to aid in the en-
forcement of said laws.
Each game warden. before entering
upon the discharge of his duties, shall
d
more sureties in the sum of five hundred
$500 dollars, conditioned for the faithful
discharge of his duties as such warden,
said bond to be approved by said board.
10. Said board of game and fish COM
missioners shall be entitled to the pos
session of any and all property belong
ing to the state by virtue of this act. and
to take possession for the state of any
and all game and fish which is declared
by this act as contraband and to dispose
Of the same, and to take possession for
the state of any property by this act de-
clared to be public nuisance and to
destroy the same.
IL. 1t shall be the duty of said board.
for and on behalf of the State of Minne-
sofa, to institute and prosecute all actions
and proceedings against all persons for
the violation of any law of this state
relating to game and fish, and to institute
and all claims due said board, whether
arising out of contract or otherwise. and
to protect the property of the state in
any manner connected with the work of
entitled The State of Minnesota, as
plaintiff, and all other actions and pro-
ceedings instituted by them shall be en-
titled The Board of Game and Fish Com
missioners of the State of Minnesota, as
plaintiff.
-. The board may employ an attornet
to perform such legal services as ths
board may require He may appear fer
said board in all civil actions in which
said board or any of its wardens may le
interested by reason of their posititn
under this act, and he may assist tie
county attorney in the prosecution Of
criminal actions arising under this att
and when for any reason the county It.
torney does not prosecute such criminal
action such attorney so employed hay
conduct such prosecution on behalf of the
state with the same authority as the
county attorney. The compensation t. be
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