Fergus County argus., 1902-01-22
Helena Division Of the Montana Fish
and Game Protective Association
are After the Game Warden.
WOULDN'T ATTEND MEETINGS
Mr.. Scott is Accused Of Not Properly
Attending to Business and in Fail.
ina to Take Prompt Action.

In no quibbling terms the members
of the Helena division of the Montana
Fish and Game Prtective association.
at a meeting held in the studio OF G.
g. Sproule on Main street Wednes
day. denounced State Game Warden
William f. Scott and the manner in
which he has conducted the game de-
partment created by the last legisla.
ture. 4 committee consisting OF G.
IS. Sproule. Frederick Naegele and \.
l.. Palmer was appointed to draft res
olut!ons ccnsuring Mr.. Scott and his
administration of the department OF
which he is the head. The commit
tee was instructed TO present Cover
nor Joseph *. Toolc with a copy of the
resolutions aud also to present copies
10 the press, 50 the people may know.
The Helena division of the associa.
Ition charges Mr.. Scott with negll.
goncc and dcrollction in the prosecu.
iion OF Offenders who have violated
tho state game laws: that he has new
cr shown an inclination to cooperate
with either the state fish and game
protective association or the Helena
! division Of such association, although
ho has repeatedly been invited to do
so. that he has never attended
Hcrting Of the association which has
n membership in TIE state of between
Guu and ZOO reputable citizens and
-poytsmen, who have at heart the best
interests of the state and respect and
desire the enforcement of the game
laws: that he declined to appoint as
enc of his deputies a good and compe-
ltunt man suggested by the assUcia-
ti1n. but instead appointed as his
chief deputy his father an aged man
$ ho resides in Deer Lodge; that he
LAS failed to take prompt action on
complaints made of depredations re-
ported by members OF the associa-
tion; that during the game season,
|
when II was necessary that the strict
est watch should have been maintain
I'd for offenders Mr.. Scott was in the
east on a pleasure trip of three weeks
duration and his office in Helena was
closed: that beaver are being unlaw-
fully trapped in Prickly Bear creek
and that there is on the Helena mar
fet grouse and deer meat which was
killed out of season; that trout are
being seined and caught by means of
grab hooks in Beaver creek and other
streams near Helena under the eyes
CT the state game warden and that no
effort is being made by him to prose
cute the offenders.
All these complaints and others will
likely be embodied in the resolutions
which will be presented to Governor
Toole.
1T is notorious fact" said Mr.
Palmer in the meeting last night,
that there are men who make bus
hess OF hunting and killing animals
which come under the protection OF
the game laws during the winter and
breeding months. These offenders
take contracts to supply eastern firms
with hides and they fill their contracts
every year.
II recently noted a report of the
state game and fish warden of Wyom'
ing. in which il was shown that rev
enues to the amount of $4,000 were de.
nved from one county-Big Horn
IT. that state last year. in the way OF
fines in cases where convictions were
secured for game depredations and
from licenses.
The annual report of the state
game warden OF Montana shows that
about $500 in fines and licenses were
received during the past year for the
entire state.
THE Montana Fish and Game Pro
tCctive association and the Helena di
vision of il were largely responsible,
Tor the creation of the office which
l.; held by Mr.. Scott and the passage
OF the game law by the last legisla
ture. The association volunteered t'
do everything in its power to assis
the game warden and his deputies L
f. enforce the laws. The association
waited until Mr.. Scott should hav'
time TO get his plans in working or
! der. Mr.. Scott and his deputies hav