The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-21
new GAME LAW.
1t Provides for Fish and Game
Commission.
Land Owners Permitted to Hunt
on Own Premises.
WILL SAVE THE BIRDS.
Nearly All Are on the Prohib-
tive List.
Believed That the Simon Meas
ure Will Pass.
WILL SAVE THE BIRDS.

Kansas is likely to have a new game
law: one that will be of some conse-
quence Hor the protection of wild game
and fish. and will punish infringements
with a heavy hand. Senator Simons OF
Wellington is the author of the bill that
was passed by the senate today
and viii at once be placed
before the house of representatives It
provides for the establishment of a fish
and game commission
II the bill is made a law it will pro-
hibit fishing except with rod and line
Land owners are permitted to hunt
upon their own preserves. There viii be
no open season for game or fish Of any
kind. The fish commissioner alone win
have authority to cast his net in other
peoples streams and if he does it for
other than business purposes he is
liable to prosecution. The ordinary
squirrels found in Kansas woods are
placed under the protection Of the law.
and the man who wanders idly forth
with fOwling piece and guns a squirrel
from neighbours tree places himself
liable to arrest by the game warden.
who by prosecution can subject him to
a fine of 500 or more.
Song birds. such as the oriole, robin.
thrush, redbird. bluebird and moclxing-
bird. are given the protection of this
law, as are also the jay. partridge.
grouse, turtle-dove and meadow lark
Especially heavy penalties are provided
for the shipment of game by railroads,
and the game commissioner and his
deputies are given authority to investl-
gate where he has reason to think game
prepared or intended for shipment Is
located. Ne provision is made for the
trapping or killing Of game for scientific.
purposes.
Senator Simons is enthusiastic over
his bill and believes it viii be carried
safely through both houses In talking
of it he said:
Quail and like birds are rapidly dis
appearing from the state and have al
ready become scarce even in the more
sparcely populated sections of the state.
Kansas clearly needs for her game the
protection of rigid law and a system
by which it shall be enforced The
same thing applies to the fish in Kansas
streams. The streams of Kansas are
perfectly adaptable to the propagation
of many kinds of fresh water fish and
there have been times when they were
abundant but many of the best creeks
and rivers are HShed out In few
years time under protection they could
be restocked. After that the population
of the stream could take care of itself
under reasonable watchfulness on the
part of the state"
Among the provisions of the law are
the following:
Section ,. Tt shall be the duty of the
state fish and game commissioner to
visit all of the principal streams of the
state which contain fish at least once in
each year, and ascertain by personal in
vestigatiOn the kind of fish best adapted
to such streams, and to resJ0ck and re-
plant said streams with fish or small
fry as the government the state or IN
dividuals may furnish the same or pro-
vide the means to do so. It shall be the
duty of the fish and game commissioner
to enforce the fish and game laws when
ever it is possible for him to do so.
Sec. 3. The state fish and game COM
missioner shall, Immediately after the
passage of this act appoint as many
deputies and fish and game commission
ers in the various counties of this states
as may be necessary to properly care
for the stocking of the streams and the
protection of the game"
1t shall not be unlawful to angle at
any season of the year with rod and
line Any person fishing in any other
manner is liable to a fine of from 500
to $500 and Imprisonment of from one to
six months.
The prohibition upon hunting is as
follows: elaz
sec IL It shall be unlawful for any
person or persons at any time. except
as hereinafter provided, to hunt. catch,
kill, shoot, pursue, entrap or ensnAre
any partridges. pinnated grouse or prai-
RE chicken, grouse, quail, pheasant
Or10le, meadow lark monaghan pheaS-
ant robin, thrush, redbird. hooking
bird, bluejay. turtle-dove, or bluebiTd
deer, timber squirrel, or antelope for a
period of five years from the approval
of this act"
It shall be unlawful for any person
company or corporation to ship any
pinnated grouse, partridges. grouse,
prairie chicken, quail, pheasant, deer Or
antelope out of the state OF Kansas
within five years from the passage OF
the act And any railroad company con-
victed Of receiving game for shipment
shall be liable to a fine of not less than
81 600 nor more than $1,000 and costs.
The bill gives the fish commissioner
power to appoint deputies in all parts
Of the state and provides, in cases of
prosecution. the assessment of $25 costs
against the defendant for the fee of the
officer making the arrest