The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-11-01
Oklahoma tame Protected.

oN'"'oHnd SoFFIe pFOteCteu.
Guthrie.-Yea after year pothunter,
In Oklahoma, In violation of law. hav,
slaughtered quail by the hundreds o
thousands and shipped them TO cit,
markets. Game laws have been enact
cd, but apparently without effect. Tn,
law providing for n territorial game
warden and assistants, passed in is9s
was step toward better protection oi
game, but the law contained defects
such as the right OF search and seizur,
ns applied to railroads and expres,
companies, that would have invalidated
II 10 large extent had these defect.
been questioned In the courts. Not.
withstanding this fact, seizures were
made at railroad depots last year tina,
temporarily had a salutary effect. A
seizure at Guthrie put an end TO the
shipment of quail from this point for
nearly month, after which the
patrons OF pothunters grew more
confident and resumed their un.
lawful business. Projections OF garpe
was handicapped by the fac; that be.
cause Of direct lines Of railroads game
was easily and quickly transported
beyond the boundaries Of Oklahoma
and could not be seized at it's destina.
tion.
Oklahoma sportsmen are rejoicing
this year because OF the national game
law introduced January ~, 1899, by
congressman John +. Lacey of Iowa.
This law became effective May %, 1900,
and gives force and effect to the game
laws OF every state and territory. The
enforcement Of the act Is under the d.
rection OF the Department Of Agricul-
ture. No appropriation was made by.
Congress, but the department has in
structed United States district attor.
neys to prosecute and United States
States marshals and their deputies are
to make arrests and gather evidence,
as in any case violating federal stat
utes. Important features Of the Lacey
bill are as follows;
ITO enlarge the powers of the De.
partment Of Agriculture, prohibit the
transportation by interstate commerce
OF game killed In violation Of local laws
and for other purposes.
''l'e 1t enacted by the Senate and
House OF Representatives of the united
States OF America in Congress Assem-.
bled, That the duties and powers OF
the Department Of Agriculture are
hereby enlarged so as To include the
preservation, distribution. introduction
and restoration Of game birds and other
wild birds. The Secretary OF Ayri.
culture 10 hereby authorized to adopt
such measures as may be necessary to
carry out the purposes Of this act and
TO purchase such game birds aud other
wild birds as may be required therefor.
subject, however, to the laws OF the
various states and territories. The
object and purpose Of this act il TO aid
in the restoration OF such birds In
those parts Of the United States adapt
ed thereto where the same have he.
come scarce or extinct, and also to reg.
rlate the introduction OF American or
foreign birds or animals 10 the locnli-
ties where they have not existed here
tofore.
''Sec. T. That all packages contain.
ing such animals birds or parts thereof
when shipped by interstate commerce,
as provided in section !, of this act,
shall be plainly and clearly marked, 30
that the name and address OF the ship.
per and the nature of the contents may
be readily ascertnined on inspection Of
the outside Of such packages. For each
evasion or violation Of this act the
shipper shall upon conviction, pay
a fine Of not exceeding $500; and the
consignce knowingly receiving such
articles no shipped and transported In
violation Of this act shall, upon con.
viction pay fine Of not exceeding $500.
and the carrier knowingly carrying or
transporting the same shall, upon con.
viction, pay fine Of not exceeding
5000"
"Sec. 0. That I'll dead bodies or
parts thereof Of any foreign animals or
birds, the importation Of which Is pro-
hibiteG. or the dead bodies or parts
thereof Of any wild animals or birds
transported into any state or territory
or remaining therein for use, consump.
tion sale or storage therein, rhall, upon
arrival In such state or territory, he
subject 70 the operation and effect Of
the laws Of such state or territory. en-.
acted In the exercise Of its police pow.
ers, to the same extent and In the same
manner ms though such animals or
birds had been produced In such state
or territory, and shall not be ex-
emp,ed therefrom by reason of being
introduced therein In original pack
ages or otherwise.
Under this last clause II will be not.
ed that the federal officers nr, TO in
wade every cooler, wherever situated
In search OF game.
Indian territory, no less than Okla.
hoinu, Is n beneficiary OF the Lacey
law. There Is more small game In Iu.
dian territory than In any other state
east OF the foothills of the Rocky
motunuins. This, ut least. Is the claim
Of persons living there. Indisn terri.
tory game has been killed ut n rate
during the last three or four years