The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-08-26
PROF. SILLOWAY EXPLAINS.
Lewiston, Mont, Aug. %,


Lewiston, Mont, Aug. %,
Editor Bee:-While calling at the
office of one of our local papers hap
pening to glance over the Kalispell
Bee of August II in the pile of ex-
changes, my attention was attracte
by an editorial headed distinguish
ed Offenders" which stated that the
biological people were killing ducks
ana geese "in defiance of the law"
and in consequence Prof. Elrod, who
has charge of the biological station,
was severely censured and asked to
explain his position in the matter.
While l am not aware that Prof. Ell
rod cares to offer explanations for
actions that have always been open
and even expressly sanctioned by
law, yet know that he does desire to
have more people of the state cogni-
zant of the workings of the station;
and as he happens to be out of the
state at this time, and is likely un-
able to give the matter present atten-
ton, as the ornithologist of the sta
ton take the liberty to make STATE
ment in justification of the charges
made in your editorial. If you have
heard from Prof. Elrod in the mean
time, you need not give space to this
communication.
It is evident that the writer of the
editorial in question is more famili II
with the use of strong eplthet than
with the statutes o. the state of Mon
tana, otherwise the legality of our COL
lecting even ducks and geese at this
season would not be questioned Sec
ton Is Of house bill No. 1913, 1897, re-
lating to the preservation of game
and fish in the state, reads thus.
None of the sections of this act shall
apply to persons hunting or otherwise
engaged in collecting specimens under
the direction of, and in the interest OF
any state educational institution Of
the state of Montana" Your editorial
writer is clearly at fault in referring
to the station collectors as 'culprits"
and violators of the law, and it now
devolves upon him to explain his un-
warranted censure of Prof. Elrod and
the people working under his direc-
ton.
True, the state game warden has no
authority to issue exemptions under
the game law, or to give permissions
to violate the law. The law itself
makes the exemptions, and the state
game warden does nave the right and
the good sense to instruct his depu-
ties not to interfere with persons col
Letting in the interest of the state uni
versity Such instructions have been
issued by the state game warden, in
the form of letters or statements held
by the collectors, addressed to the
deputies or persons concerned, stat
ing that the holders are acting under
the direction of the university and
are therefore exempt from interfer-
ence. Hence Game Warden Scott
owes no explanation to the Bee or it's
readers, and deputy Warden Boucher
need not bestir himself, for there is
no such opportunity as he has been
looking for.
1t is true that others may plead the
same excuse, provided they are really
collecting under the direction of the
university or other educational insti
buttons of the state, as the exemp-
tons are very clearly stated IN the
law. Hence the value of statement
or letter from the state game warden,
which is sufficient protection for the
bona fide collector. Without such
evidence the collecting is quite likely
illegal, and will afford the warden
the long-looked for opportunity. These
are not permissions from the state
warden, but statements to show that
the person is acting under the direc-
ton of the educational institution
mentioned, and is therefore so far
eX empt from interference by deputy
game wardens and others.
NO secret has been made of the
work at the biological station. It was
organized to investigate and publish
facts in regard to the geological and
botanical life of the state. The sta.
ton was established at Bigfork be-
cause of the abundant facilities afford.
ed by the neighbornood for collecting