The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-21
A SLAUGHTER OF GAME
Law Is Being Violated Through
out the State.
SPORT WILL BE RUINED
Pot Hunters. Camping Parties and In
dians Are Getting In Their Deadly
work-More Game War
dens Are Needed.

From all parts of the state complaints
are coming in Of the violation of the
state fish and game laws. The thing
has reached such a stage that 1T can no
longer be considered sport, but simply
slaughter. Pot hunters. camping par
ties and Indians. according to the re-
ports. are openly violating the law 10 a
greater evtent than ever before and IL
measures are not Immediately taken to
stop 1t legitimate sport will be ruined.
The following letter from a resident of
Lincoln is a fair sample of many other
complaints which have been made. The
letter is dated Aug. Z and is addressed
to a county official. 1t reads:
w greatly need a game and fish
warden for this part Of Deer Lodge
county. and we understand there is one
appointed for our county, but don't
know who he is. Would like to learn
his name and place of residence.
w would like one appointed who
could make his home here. A deputy
would answer. If 1t could be granted us.
This is the greatest game resort in
Montana and is the most overrun by
pot hunters, Indians twice a year, and
whites from Helena, Marysville, Ana
conda, Deer Lodge and elsewhere, who
catch fish i'm all manner of ways when
ever weather permits camping out.
IF you think there is a chance for
an appointment for us, please let me
know"
The mater of violation of the law has
become so fragrant that il has been
taken up by the League of American
Sportsmen and that it will be made
warm for offenders may be inferred
from the following correspondence.
- - ST IL
date of Aug. II from the headquarters
of the association at New York as fol-
lows:
ITO the Editor of the Standard:
Dear Sir-I hand you herewith some
documents relative to the League Of
American Sportsmen, which / trust you
will take time to xamine carefully. /
also hope you may feel a sufficient in
terest in the cause of game protection
in your state to talk about his mat
ter.
'The l.. A. s.. was organized I'm Janu-
airy last and already has about 500 MEM
bers scattered throughout about "a
states. Montana has 50 members, among
whom are such prominent citizens as j.
G. =. Peck, Helena; Robert Mathews,
N. Desrosiers, Marysville; Hon. l.. A..
Huffman and II. w. Mcintyre, William
Courtenay, Hon. c. II. Loud, Hon. J. w.
Strevel, Miles City; DIR. +. +. Coyning-
ham, Butte; N. b. Ringeling, Philips
burg; j. w. Hulse. Gardiner; Ernest f.
Browne, Fort Benton; Gilbert Rhodes,
Alex Harper, DIR. J. j. Buckley, Prof.
NJ. J. Elrod, Missoula; III. p. Kenneth,
Victor.
'Dr. +. F. C~oyningham of Butte has
been elected chief warden of the Mon
tam division and il is expected that he
will at once appoint a local warden in
each county in the state. 1t will be the
duty of these wardens to look after all
violations of the game law; report the
offenders to the civil authorities and
see that they are prosecuted and pun
ished. For years past the game of all
kinds, as well as game fishes. in Mon
tana. has been slaughtered I'm season
and out Of season and many species of
game are threatened with early extinc-
ton. 1t is only by energetic work on
the part Of all friends Of game preserva-
ton that these birds and animals can
he saved. All friends of game protec-
ton are urged to join the work. Appli-
cations should be sent to Arthur f. Rice,
secretary, 10 West Twenty-fourth street,
New York city"
The following open letter from the
association was enclosed, stating the
objects of the organization:
The purpose of this letter is TO ask
your cooperation in a matter of great
Importance to every one who is OPP
posed to the humiliation of our native
quadrupeds, birds and fishes. The time
has come when nothing short of a uni
Versal movement for the effective pro-
lection of our wild creatures will save
them from everlasting destruction.
"Neve before were the agencies of
destruction so numerous as now. Never
before were they so widely distributed,
and never before were they so effective
for slaughter. A careful inquiry re-
fantlN made hN the NOW York Znnlnpi-
cal society. and to be published forth
with, eveals the startling fact that
throughout 30 states and territories of
this country the decrease i'm the volume
of bird life during the last Is years has
reached an average of 40 per cent, The
decrease in the number of edibl birds
upland game. water fowl, shore birds
ana pigeons-has been wen greater
thar that: and a number of our finest
species are now approaching practical
extinction. Worse han ali this, many
of our song birds are now being killed
for food
The League of American Sportsmen
has recently been organized Tin this
city, for the purpose of creating. in
every state, territory n county of our
country. "A well organized standing
army of game protectors, WHICH shall.
IN Secure the enactment of more
stringent general laws.
"(2) Which shall see that lawlessness
is punished.
"(8 Which shall discourage game
slaughter, n
"4D Protect the wild creatures that
still remain.
IF you choose to inquire into the de-
tails of the plans of campaign. as set
forth in the constitution and bylaws,
l am sure they viii meet with your
approval.
lin order to make this movement ef-
fective a large membership is abso-
lutely necessary. The league wants
members everywhere. gathered in To-
cal organizations. Believing that the
objects of the league will appeal TO
you. I urgently invite you to become a
member There is no initiation fee. the
annual dues are only 81. and 80 per cent
Of all moneys received are turned over