The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-06
is toward breeding up the herds.
Work Of Inspectors,

is toward breeding up the herds.
Work OF Inspectors.
can examination of the inspection
reports for the year will demonstrate
the efficiency of the inspection force
and be an indication of the benefits
accruing to the stock interests from
this work.
"These reports for the year show a
total Of SO arrests for violation of the
stock laws. resulting in 81 convictions
and rs cases still pending in the
courts; in addition one party had a
bunch of horses confiscated by the
Canadian government, while another
furnished a cash bond of $1,000 and
then forfeited it to the county rather
than stand trial.
Notorious Rustler Arrested.
among the arrests were several of
unusual Importance to the stock inter-
ests, two or three in particular being
among the most notorious rustlers
ever known in Montana-and this
branch of the work has been excep-
tionally satisfactory during the year.
"The inspectors have likewise done
some creditable work in preventing
bounty frauds and a number of claims
were held up and still remain unpaid
through the work of inspectors in
finding evidence of fraud. The board
has exercised the powers conferred
by law with regard to assisting in
the prosecution of persons arrested
for violation of the stock laws, and
such funds as were necessary have
been expended in procuring evidence
and employing legal assistance to Sc
cure the enforcement of the stock
laws.
I'm compliance with the statute.
relative to the killing Of livestock on
the railroad S, u inspectors have ex-
amined the hides of cattle SO killed
and report a total of 1874 hides inspect
ed. A record has been kept of the
brands on these hides and the re-
| spective owners notified-to afford
them opportunity to collect the value
of their stock so killed, from the rail
road company and with very few ex-
ceptions the railroad companies have
promptly paid all such claims.
Legislation Needed.
"Some legislation is needed in be-
half of the stock interests, sugges-
tons for which will doubtless be pre-
scented to the next legislative assembly.
There have been some complaints of
fraud in connection with the pay
ment of wolf bounties, owing to the
suspicion that pelts are brought into
the state from adjoining states and
territories because of the larger boun-
ties paid IN Montana. Official informa-
ton on file in this office shows that
while we pay a bounty of SIS on wolves
and coyotes, in Canada there is no
bounty whatsoever OH coyotes, like
ming and South Dakota it is only 81
and all suspicion of fraud attaches
to the coyote bounty, which consti-
tutes probably Is per cent of all boun-
ties paid in this state.
1.-The law requires some amendment
to provide further safeguard against
fraud. There should also be some
law placed to prevent the logging of
cattle, of which there is considerable
complaint, much injury being done
to cattle by this pernicious practice.
Some legislation is likewise needed
with regard to the taking III, using
or disposing of stray horses and an
effort will be made to frame a bill
covering the requirements of the
case"
The report states that a stock in
spector is maintained in almost ev-
cry county in the state, and the board
is in excellent financial condition,
which has enabled it to make it's
work more far reaching and effectual
during the past year than ever before.
January l, 1902, a balance of $37,955.-
SO was on hand. The receipts dur
ing the year amounted to 2 9,S26.74,
and the expenditures were $26,25O,
leaving on hand January l, 1908, SAL
532.70.