The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-02-13


kind that animal life Is more abund-
ant today around the inaccessible
poles than anywhere else on the
planet. Fish in the inbospitale Hud-
son bay region are SO plentiful that
it is Impossible to furnish the names
of them all end like the statue to the
unknown God at Athens, one of
these Canadian fishes was called the
'inconnu' or the unknown fish. The
proposed railway to Hudson bay
will change all this.
Appeal 10 Hunters
saul of Tarsus ceased to bait
Christians after the scales fell from
his eyes at Damascus and became the
best friend and preserver of the failn-
hunters, not only of hunters bat of
mighty hunters, as the best friends
and preservers of American birds
and beasts. There are now 46 .OOO, 900
acres of our forests preserved to
keep up the supply of water for our
rivers This is great step in the
direction OF outstanding natures re
sources. Farseeing and practical
men saw that part of the forests
must be saved or the remainder of
the land would become desert, and
the forest reserves we're established
against the protests of the unthink-
ing. These woods thus set apart as
the sources of water supply, may be
made the city of refuge for the
remnant OF the mighty tbrong of ami
NAL life that once filed the continent
We have seen the buffalo 80 nearly
exterminated that less than five
hundred living specimens today may
be found in the entire world Their
domestication was as practicable as
that of the reindeer, the horse or the
COW. Perhaps out of these scanty
remnants new herds may again be
produced.
Public sentiment is growing in fav-
or of the conservation of our resourc-
es 1t is timely as to some things. It
is far too late as TO others. The sal
mon industry, so-called, is hnrrying
with the aid of wheels and machinery
with headlong speed toward its own
destruction. The law ought to call a
halt IL self-interest will not lead these
men to protect their own business
We have at last federal law which
takes long step in that direc
ton.
Slaughter of Birds
"The slaughter of our birds has
gone on apace but this law is being
steadily and successfully invoked to
reduce this destruction within more
moderate limits. In a single transac.
tiDn in London 100000 birds were
sold, and among them 100,OOO hum
ming birds.
professor Jordon, of Leland Stan
ford University, wrote me that in
recent visit to Japan he found that
the trees had been lined and the song
birds exterminated by the people who
were engaged in supplying the horrid
demands of the bird millinery trade.
The Dingley law protected the water
fowl Of Canada and the Alaska code
did the same for the birds of Alaska
by prohibiting the shipment of their
eggs to the United States.
Attorney General Knox, one of
the clearest-headed lawyers that has
ever administered the department of
justice, has recently, at my request
considered the subject of the nation
al power over the public lands and
forest reserves, and his opinion is to
the effect that congress can, within
even the limits of state, legislate
and make regulations by which ami
nal life may be protected in the for
ests of the people. This opinion OF
the attorney general will be land
mark in the history of protective leg
islaJion, for. as congress gives the
power 1t should not and will not fail
TO exercise it.
"Let me recall the general history
OF our national legislation. upon this
subject:
"rhe first bill introduced in the
house passed the senate and died in
conference.
Takes Publie Sentiment
1.-THE second time it passed both
houses of congress and took its place
upon the statute books. 1t was passed
because an enlightened public senti-
ment sustained and supported the
champions of the measure.
with public sentiment behind it
nothing can fail. Without 1t nothing
can succeed The public sentiment
must be educated upon all these ques-
tons.
"Law upon the statute books is in
vain il the people 60 not support it.
Meetings like the present and an in
terchange of views will do much to
advance the public opinion to that
point where ell laws for the preserva-
ton of the lesnder remains of our
game will receive the cordial support
of all the people,"
Lacey Given Ovation
At the conclusion of his remarks
Major Lacey was given an ovation
by the fifty distinguished guests.
President Roosevelt taking occasion
to voice his pleasure, and it was vot-
ed that henceforth the Iowa con-
gresham who has a thought for
Gods dumb creatures shall have the
place of honor at the board of the
Boone and Crockett club.