Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-21

son, clerk OF the state board of ex.
amlners. who has charge Of the thous-
amos OF bounty certificates filed by
persons who work havoc among the
Wlld animals that prey upon the cat
Tie and sheep in Montana.
A statement prepared by Mr.. Day.
luson indicates a considerable decrease
In the coyote population by reason of
sudden and violent death, but there
is no method of discovering whether
the animals are nearly all slain be-
cause Of a lack Of statistics showing
the percentage of deaths to births.
When the last legislature reduced the
bounty 1t was thought possible that
the state would be able by the end of
the present calendar year TO clear
away the accumulated claims and put
the bounty business on a cash basis.
h hope now seem unlikely of full
hllment, for he reason that while the
bounty has been reduced the number
OF animals killed has largely increas-
ed over the number for last year AMI
there are yet the filings for December
to be added to this years total.
In paying off these bounty claims
the state has not yet been able to get
down TO the beginning of the present
year. In fact, there are about $751;
600 worth of the claims that were filed
last year TO be paid before this years
claims can be reached. The aggregate
of the claims filed during the calen-
dar year 1903 was STA III, whereas
the aggregate for IL months Of 1904
is Sl33,6S The IL months just past
show a great increase in the number
of separate certificates as compared
with the three full years preceding.
In 1901, the total was 5,279; in 1902,
5,722; in 1903, 1886, and in the past
IL months, $3.50. II is estimated that
the total number for this year will
exceed that of either of the years
mentioned by 1000 or more.
Mr.. Davidson's statistics show that
during the calendar year 1903 the num-
Der OF animals killed was 29,137, while
for the past IL months the total is
shown to be 52,07l, the total for the
two years being 7l,20S.
In 1903 Rosebud county showed the
largest total of claims. her aggregate
being s20,369. This year the palm
goes TO Valley county, which has. up
to the goth of November, a total OF
S20,07S. and is at the head OF the list
by about $4,000.
Mr.. Davidson's figures show the
number of animals of each class for
whose deaths the state has paid, oil
will pay, for the past two years. In
1903, the number of coyotes for the
killing of which claims were present
ed was 1880. the claims a~ggregating
s74,97S. For the past IL months the
total was 22,444, the claims footing
up s67,94S.
In 1903, the claims for coyote pups
reached 7,75S, worth $23,776; in 1904
l5,035, worth $45. 105.
For 1903, the number of wolves was
1889 and the total of the claims Sc,
GU; for 1904, 1,572 claims worth So,
GU. The number of wolf pup claim:
in 1903 was 1,446 worth $4,694; II
1904. 1877 worth s5,9A.
The number of mountain lions kill
ed has doubled in the last year. thu
total for 1903 being So as against IL
for 1904. The value of the claims TO
1903 was 1892 and for 1904 s7S4.
/. AS to bear. the total for 1908 wa
COS as against 93l for 1904. and III
totals of the claims were S4,254 an
$6,513 respectively.
: A few Of the claims filed during tn
. year were taken out under the law
of several years ago when a differen
schedule of bounties was in effect
The rate o is SO for coyotes an
coyote pups: S. for wolves and So fo
wolf pups; 81 for mountain lion an
4 81 for bear.