Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-09-30
REPORT OF
GAME WARDEN
Nayahos, Apaches and Pueblos
Playing Havoc With Protect
ed Wild Animals.
LAWS BEING ENFORCED
Owing to Drouth Of Past Summer
Trout Streams Are in Poor
Condition.

Page B. Otero, game and fish ward
en- for the Territory of New Mexico,
has mode the following report to Gov
ernor Otero for the past fiscal year, for
insertion in the annual report of Gov
ernor Otero to the Secretary of the In
| terror:
The advantages which nature has so
i literally bestowed upon New Mexico
| in the way Of magnificent mountain
ranges and numerous beautiful
| streams and lakes, should, with the
wise enactment of practical laws look
| ing to the preservation of our game
| and fish, prove great source of rev.
enue Sportsmen who select this field
for hunting and fishing would leave
usually more than the value of the
game they take away, especially If a
uniform license charged.
Other states and territories realize
the Importance Of protecting and pre-
serving their game and fish, and are
making every effort to improve their
condition in this respect.
The success or failure of officials to.
enforce our game and fish laws, de-
pend largely upon public sentiment;
and while there is growing and bet
ter sentiment in many localities of our
Territory, and little difficulty is met in
securing convictions upon proof OF
guilt. there is still in some portions
of our game and fish districts a de-
cided prejudice against the prosecu-
ton of violators even when the evil
dence of guilt is conclusive, partly due,
no doubt, to the fact that the people
have not yet realized that what they
have always considered to be legiti-
! mate and right is not being arbitrarily
taken away from them.
While more arrests and convictions
for game and fish law violations have
been made during the past year than
during the entire former history OF
this department, still, as | have stat
ed in my previous report, it is very
difficult to obtain the services OF suit
able men to act as deputy wardens on
account of the insufficient compensa-
ton connected Herewith, there be
no money appropriated for compensat-
ing deputy other than the fines col
lected from successful convictions. On
the theory that those who hunt and fish
should pay all, or large share OF the
cost of preserving the game and fish,
instead of burdening the general tax
payers. | again urge the necessity OF
enacting a law licensing hunters. as
follows: Resident hunters - large
game (deer), $500 per season; small
game (birds), s1.o0 per first day, and
so cents per each succeeding day.
Nonresident general hunting license.
$3.50 per season. In this way we
could create fund out of which dep
uties might be paid stipulated salary,
and be in a position to dictate as to-
the kind of men to employ and insist
upon their doing their full duty.
During the year just passed there
have been five arrests made, all re-
sulting in convictions: Three in Grant,
Sierra and Luna Counties, and two in
San Miguel County and the lesson
seems to have had the proper effect.
for. while it has so far been difficult
to obtain regular reports from depu-
ties, what few notices of violations OF
| the law coming to this office from 9TH
er sources, are from parties not consid-
cred responsible.
While it is not to be expected that
everything will be saved; still, with
a few changes in the present law. and
a proper system of enforcing the same,
l have no doubt but that the improve
ment in all conditions would be plain
| ly noticeable.
The slaughter of deer by the Apache,
| Navajo and Pueblo Indian tribes who
\ make their raids from their reserva-
tions each fall (and at other times)
has done more than all other agencies
combined reduce the number of our
deer and antelope herds. | have fre.
quently notified the Indian Agents
likewise their attorney in New Mexico
to see that these Indians are not per
mitted to indulge in these annual raids
but with only moderate success. Last
October visited Taos and in an inter
view with one of the Apache chiefs
who was there with thirty-seven of his
tribe, informed him that l would moi
permit them, to do any hunting while
there. They went back to their reser
walton next day.
II Since my last report have appoint
ed thirty-five additional deputies in dif
ferent counties. making the total ol
those now in the service eighty-two
! This number includes all government
} forest rangers, who have been doing
excellent work.
Last summer spent about twt
: 1 - - II