Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-28
TO CHANGE BOUNTY LAW.
Proposition to Have inspection o
Hides Made BY Sjuoje Official.

bN8k<SttSfN VI
Hides Made by Single OFFICIAL.
Helena, Dec. 19.-Stockmen and
others conversant with the facts con.
Cede that the present status of the
law on the subject OF bounty on wild
animals Is unsatisfactory. both By
reason OF the fact that some uncer.
talnty exists as to which of the mum.
erous amendments that have been
adopted Changing the law as Il orig
inally stood in the political code as
adopted In 1895, Is now In force, anG
the further fact that adequate provis-
ion is not made for carrying the law
into effect.
The provisions OF the act Of 1903
creating the Office OF county bounty
inspectors Is unsatisfactory In that
difficulty is frequently experienced
In finding the Inspectors when want
ed, and no provision Is made for fur.
nishing the necessary blanks and sta
tionery for the performance of their
duties and the duty Is imposed upon
them without compensation.
In view of the conditions. II is he.
lieved that a general revision Of the
bounty law is advisable, and to this
end a bill has been proposed which,
1t is hoped. will cure the defects now
existing, and this Is to be introduced
at the coming session VI the legisla-
tive assembly.
The proposed bill repeals all exist
ing statutes bearing on the subject
Of bounties. and provides for the ap.
poirtment by the governor OF a state
bounty inspector, at q salary to be
fixed by the legislature. Il provides
for the presentation of skins for the
bounty thereon to the clerks In snb-
stantially the same manner as pro-
vided In former acts, the clerks, how.
ever, merely issuing a receipt showing
that the skins are held for inspection
by the state inspector.
Section six Of the act provides that
the inspector shall visit each county
not oftener than nce In 60 days for
the inspection Of skins that have been
presented.
II IL provided In section seven of
the act that the inspector shall give
the clerks two weeks notice by mail
of the day when he will make an in
spection, and the clerks In turn are
to notify the claimants Of such date.
1t is believed by the drafters of the
act that the operation Of the bill
would result In a savings of from &c.,
900 to $4,000 annually TO the state.
It is stated by furriers and others
acquainted with the facts that the
state pays annually large sums in
bounties on hides brought from the
interior of Canada, and that these
skins may readily be distinguished
from the hides of domestic animals
by a person OF experience In handling
them. Those familiar with the habits
OF the animals named in the bill say
that they rarely wander more than 30
or 40 miles from their accustomed
haunts. While, therefore, 1t would be
difficult to determine fraud from the
source mentioned when the animals
are killed close to the state line. yet
Il is claimed that IL could easily be
done when the hides are brought In
rom interior portions Of Canada.
The proposed bill fixes the bounty
al the figures named in the act Of
1908: Wolves, S.: coyote pups and
wolf pups. 50; bears and mountain
lions, 81 each.
The records of the state board of
examiners, as compiled by Ney N.
Davidson, clerk Of the board. and Civ.
en- In the Tribune q few days ago,
| show that during the year certificates
for the bounty on 931 bears have been
filed. At 81 each, this makes the
bounty on bears for the year $6.517.
Placing the average value Of sheep
killed by the bears at $3.50 q head.
It Is found that the bounty paid on
bears Is equivalent in value Of more
than $500 head Of sheep.