, 1898-12-16


those who retained them lid so only for
the reason that they C as guides t,r
tourists and hunters.
The law must be changed, or else
In a few years there will be no game
left to need protectron.
Two years ago / recommended to
the legislature a game law, but it did
not pass. ! will repeat it."
The bill recommended by the conf
missioner provides as follows: APP
pointment by the governor of a state
game and fish warden, his term of Office
to be four years, at a salary Of $1,000
per annrrm and $500 for expenses, the
warden to give a bond of $4,000. He
shall have power to enforce state game
and fish laws i'm all counties and is
vested with power to make arrests.
Said warden to have power to appoint
two deputies with same powers. at a
salary of 5000 per year, each, and 5000
for expenses. Each deputy to file every
month a detailed account of his acts.
All moneys collected as fines, except
one-half which goes to informer, to be
paid into the state treasury as a fund
for expense of warden and deputies.
Commissioner Schnitger further
recommends a law prohibiting the sale
of hides or meat of moose, elk, deer,
antelope, mountain sheep and noun
tain goat, or to have in possession or Of
fer for sale or export these animals
alive. A similar provision is made con
corning swan, geese. brant, ducks and
snipe.
Commenting on the proposed law
Mr.. Schnitger says:
'In submitting the above for you1
consideration, and that of the legisla-
ture, / do SO knowing from experience
that these provisions in the law are alb
solutely necessary to further protect
the game of our state, as under the
present laws 1t is impossible to con-
vict violators in the sale of game hides
In my last report, / made a statement
showing how the affidavit Law is abused
by men who are doing more to destroy
the large game of our state than all the
Indians and all the tourists that are
within our borders. The skin hunter
is a seourge to this land. We have kill.
ed of the market hunter by the enact
ment of our present game laws and b
the laws above mentioned are enacted
the skin hunter will also be driven out
of our state.
"In every state where this affidavit
law has been in force it has proved
failure and 1T IL !. Of encourage
ment for the hide hunter to exterminats
| all the game in the country. The per
nit law is a menac to large game ami.
mails and encourages the destruction o
hundreds of game animals by men who
are paid for pursuing these helpless
animals in the snow and killing the
parent animal in order that the young
may be made captive alive. This Is al
done for gain and speculative purposes
and is done during the closed season
| The animals are caught and held unit
spring or summer and then shipped by
the permit law as demesticated ami.
mails under the guise Of supplying pub
lie parks. This shipment Of live game
| animals is abused and 1t encourages
the Violation of the game law by the
| capture OF these animals in an unlaw.
ful manner No person should be al
lowed, under any circumstances, to cap
tnre game animals alive, at any time
of the year, and the intent OF the law Il
that game animals shall be taken only
by gunshot, and then only in the oper
season.
II have given these matters seriou,
consideration for the past two year
and the people throughout the stat
have expressed their opinion TO my
office regarding 1t and with me agret
that those sections in the law produc'
results that are disastrous to larg'
game. If an appropriation is made fol
the protection OF game, the amount O
money SO expended will return tenfold
II the industry is to be sustained b.
state government work, the time hai
new come for action in the matter.
1.-The national government has appro
priated money to protect and preserv'
the large game of the Yellowstone Ma
tional park, which is a material help Il
this state, in assisting to protect thu
game in our natural preserves that ad
join the National park. The commits
sioner of the National park has shown
his willingness ito cooperate with thu
game protectors OF this state, and viii
do all in his power to help forward tn
good work as soo as we get u gam
protectors at work IN the field" )
Don't miss the halt:
price sale ofDress Pat
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