The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-31
WHAT IS WANTED BY
FLATHEAD SPoRTSMEN
Secretary Of the Local Association Writes
A Letter.
OUTLINING LOCAL NEEDS
In the Matter Of Game Protection Indians Should Be
Observation-Disclosures the Open
Season For Deer
NEEDS

would breed contempt for the game
laws, foster an adverse sentiment and
ALLEVIATE the friendship and support ii
many, who for years have endeavored
to keep the present law from becOm
ing a dead letter. Conditions are not
ripe for stringent game laws in Moi.-
tana. 1t is more to the interest Of
game protection to. make your laws
fairly liberal but strictly enforce them,
than it is to have strict game law
and that dead letter-a law which
officials are afraid to enforce ana pub
lie sentiment repudiates. | am quite
proud of the fact that during the past
few years | have made some enemies
in my efforts to uphold the present
liberal and we'll considered game law
of this state and there are MANY 9th
ers in this locality who have not hes
itated to risk their own business ana
political interests in the same be-
half, but the painstaking work Of
years will be nullfied if house bill l3
is permitted to become law in its
present form. 1t is most likely true
that we will have a game warden in
the near future, whose exclusive no
vince it will be to see that the game
law is enforced whatever be It's pro.
visions, but there is a force which al
7, ,,,.1,, f1,D I
not be able to overcome if your law is
not just, wise and cOnsiStanl with the
liberal institutions of Montana Pub.
lie sentiment must not be everloGl. ell
in the matter of making laws, no..
must the interests of the whole state
be subordinated to the necessarily
narrow view of one locality"
| The law-abiding sportsmen OF this
locality wish the Montana Game Pre-.
tective association god-speed in its
efforts to accomplish good in the way
of game protection, and in the good
work can safely promise that Oh.
people will do their share, but afte'
years of careful study of the Gondi
tons OF the greatest game section OF
the United States as well of the views
opinions, sentiments and feelings CT
the people who inhabit it. l feel that
would be criminally negligent If
did not sound a note of warnine
against radical legislation
The crying need at this time, Is
not SO much, changes in the present
law, but means to enforce it-A lih
eral appropriation for the fish ant
game commission-the appointr.' n
of a game warden with liberal mum
Der of deputies, will do more goo,
than anything else that can be done.
Another feature of the propose
law which is Objectionable to oul
, people is that which prohibits ~
!, catching of trout of less than 81,
} inches in length. The effect OF sucl
a provision would be to prohibit, III
, solutely, the catching Of brook trout
, as the average size of that species i
about six inches. Besides the fish
catch before they are hooked and yer
Y few trout survive after being aoor:c
iand landed even if thrown into tn
+ water Immediately. The only crfel
l of the provision would be to maze
e fellow, who had scrambled over falle
t logs and through thickets for hour
t whipping small stream, feel Xix
y a criminal when he sat down to
J mess of small fish, perhaps the sol
e fruit of his days eXertions. 1t is foil
Il TO think that a person under such CT
+; cumstances would obey the letter {
" the law and put the fish back into til
water. Occasionally punc.ilior
i Isaac might be found who wolld !
e willing to conform to such an idle 7
e quirement, but for every one of sue
~ a hundred wou,i be found VINO YOU
II refuse to be bound. Where seine
D or nets are used such provisic
g would be beneficial, but to have
l. apply to cases where fish are caugl
1T with hook and line would opera
IF only to make Il fshernaa a fusiti,
It from Justice as well as liza
g, The Lord knows the fisherman Ii;
Of enough substantial sins to answ
" for, without having additional s,rcun.
lie for delinquency multiplied by the Ie
j. islature.
II The open season for deer ought
5. commence at the same time the Sc
er son for ducks, ch'ckens and phea
ants. that is to say the 18th of Au
&c A retitition recently cir1u;atcd in til
Ell locality asks that the open scast
u begin Sept. Is and close Jan. -.