The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-07
BUNNY NOT SAFE.
Rabbits May Be Hunted Without
a License.
They Don't Belong in List Of
Protected Game.
MR.. TRAVIS is HERE.
Promises to Make 1t Lively for
County Clerks.
Some of Them Keeping Part Of
License Fee.
MIR. TRAVIS is HERE.

Del Travis. the state game warden,
says that there is trouble ahead for
some of the county clerks of the state
who are trying to retain 25 cents out
of each dollar received for hunting
licenses. They insist that the law al
lows them TO collect % cents for the
county for each impression of the Off
cial county seal and on each hunting
license is the county seal.
Mr.. Travis. who was in Topeka, yes
terday, referred the matter to Attorney
General coleman and received an
opinion that the county clerks must
pay over the whole sum collected for
licenses to the county treasurer, to be
RENTED to the state treasurer for use
of the game warden's department.
"I think" says Mr.. Travis, that
when the county clerks find out that
the attorney general says they must
turn in all the money they receive,
they viii most of them come down
without any fight. but I understand
that q few of them are preparing to
resist. They claim that under some
old statute. the county is entitled to
2 > cents for each time the county seal
is used III an official manner The new
game law, however, makes 1t the duty
of the county clerk TO issue the license
and impress thereon his seal. There
is no authority given him to collect the
? . cents; he must put on his seal, and
he must remit the dollar TO the state
what Will be the total income from
the hunting licenses this year2" was
asked.
Il estimate that it will go over $50
600. My first estimate was $4,000;
it IS practically certain to more than
double that. I based my estimate for
d III
thought would issue about 200 IL
censes. Instead, Pratt county viii is
sue more than 400 licenses
what viii be done with the $50
ct will be used in building up The
state fish department. We expect to
buy a car for distributing fish. We
VIII also build a lot more ponds for
breeding purposes. The more ponds
we have. the more fish We can supply.
more ponds. believe that we can
build up a state fish hatchery which
viii be equal to any in the country,
and which Will make some mighty
fine fishing in the streams of the state I
1t was suggested to Mr.. Travis that
the next legislature might see fit to
amend the fish and game law SO that
the income from licenses should go
into the general funds of the state, in
stead Of being available for the de-
velopment of the fish and game bust
ness.
ii anything of that sort is attempt
ed, said Mr.. Travis. II think the
members of the legislature viii hear
from it. The hunters of the state are
putting up this money. they want it
used for the development of the fish
and game Of the state. The state is
not losing anything; the spOrtslnen are
paying the bills: why shouldn't the
spOrtsmen be allowed to build UP with
their own money big fish hatchery
Tt is a matter in which the legislature
should not interfere and if they
should. the sportsmen of the state
would be heard from"
No Ban on Rabbit Hunting
rs it necessary to have a license to
hunt rabbits % was asked. This has
been disputed point for long time,
and many county clerks have held
license for any kind of hunting
NO. sir said Travis emphatically.
No license is required from people
who hunt rabbits. and rabbits only. I
expect have answered about 500 let
tels asking that question during the
past six months. The law allows peo-
pie to hunt anything they please with
out license, provided that something
isn't under the protection of the law.
Rabbits are not protected"
The following is a list Of the pro-
tected game; Partridge pinnated
grouse, pheasant, oriole, meadow lark
rONin, thrush, redbird. knocking bird,
bluebird, wild ducks. Wild geese. wild
brandt and red squirrels Just so q
person does not kill any of these
creat lures. he does not require a
license. Nor does any one hunting ex-
elusively on his own farm. or on the.
premises of u club of which he is a
member. require a license for any
kind of hunting.
1T is d fact. nevertheless said Mr..
Travis, that the law is weak in that
it permits people to hunt certain
kinds Of game without a license. III
opens the door to violations of the law
In case a person is caught out hunting
without a license, he can excuse him
self by saying that he is hunting rab-
bits. and unless he has some other
kind of game in his possession it is
very hard to make a case against
him.
Travis Roasts SHUTS.
A few days ago. DR.. Shuts. of Wich-
tia. came out with a long interview in
the Wichita Beacon in which he
abused Travis for general incom-
potency and worthlessness. He said
that the state of Kansas has no need
for a fish hatchery of any kind; that
If the fish warden was any good he