The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17

have the support of all interested in
the preservation of game with us in the
| work, and could accomplish nothing
| without the aid of strongly organized
bodies like those mentioned.
A source of great damage and injury
to fish has been brought to our notice
| during the past year, which we are
powerless to stop, though We very much
would like to do so. This is washing
| coal in the waters of streams and thus
backing and polluting the waters so as
to kill the fish. This should never
| happen Great industries are great
thing, but there is no industry greater
to the people in value than all the fish
in any one stream of any size If this
| is not stopped soon all the fish in the
| Yellowstone river will be killed, which
| would be a calamity to the state and a
disgrace to its Intelligent citizens
Other means may be taken to reach
the same end by the coal companies,
at some expense, it is true but they
should be made to meet it.
The commission desires every citizen
OF the state who reads this article to
procure copy of the present law re-
latlng to game to go over it carefully
to mediate carefully the suggestions
here made and have an opinion as to
what is best for game law at the
next session of the legislature.
1t will be observed that the salaries
OF the present county wardens, though
covering less than half the state,
amount to between $1,000 and Sc 900 a
year. 1T this amount We're in the hands
OF the present commission at least
four deputies could be kept in the field
all the time, in communities where they
were unknown, could work in any Dor-
ton of the state instead of in one
county and could do better service for
the people and for the protection of
iS-
wild game and fish is the property of
the state and not of the county, 1t is
not policy to patrol well one county
and have the adjoining county unpro-
tected. The protection should be
state system and not a county system.
Means should be provided whereby the
state commission should have a fund
sufficient for payment of a state war
den and sufficient number of deputies
to protect Nthe game and fish in one
section as We'll as another Give war
dens permanent employment make
them learn their business. assure good
men tenure of office so long as they
do their duties, and they will do their
work better and more efficiently than
can be done at present.
In order to raise funds some method
must be devised. Most states raise
revenue by a system of permits for
hunting, or by gun license. The form
er is the better plan, since non-resi-
dents can be assessed heavier than
residents, and since the securing of 4
permit is purely voluntary Moreover,
the state should have a system of hav-
ing licensed guides, to whom could be
referred the applications of non-resi-
dents who wish to hunt. With a rea-
sonahle system of permits which
would be no burden except on those
who hunt, and they get their moneys
worth, a good fund may be had for
the patroling of the state. With the
disposition Of fines as before mentioned
the counties could prosecute the cases
as at present, and would in turn re-
ceive benefit from fines. They would
then do the work more cheerfully and
would take more interest in the prose-
cution of offenders. At present they
pay all the expense and get nothing,
either in case of conviction or non-con-
Viction
The fishing streams of the state af-
ford abundant room for all to fish. If
the streams are cared for they will af-
ford an eXhaustless supply of fish for
all time to come. But with the present
system they are bound to be depleted
in the communities settled up by man.
At present people must go farther and
farther from the large cities to fish
than formerly. Attention is called to |