The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-13
Press and Comment
E.E.EE
Fish Law Violated.

Complaint is made by the Idaho Falls Post and the
Rgby Star that little attention is paid to the law for
the protection of fish in their neghborhoods and the
former includes in its criticisms the violation of the
game law also, saying:
The belief has gained ground locally that the game
laws should be looked into little carefully in
this section, as there have been several violations
within the past few days, it is reported on re-
liable authority And this is not the only section that
needs attention. Fish and game hogs are becoming
exceptionally numerous and irreparable injury is
being done the game interests of the state 1t is
up to the warden deputy to get busy there
appears to be plenty of evidence.
The Rigby paper quotes the law passed by the last
legislature and comments:
Right under the nose fguratively, of the state
game warden the law relating to constructing and
maintaining dams in streams which the fish can
pass is being violated in this country continuous
ly without protest. SO far as know, from the
state game warden.
The law under discussion provides that it is unlaw
full to maintain dam in any stream in Idaho that
does not provide practicable fish way for the pass
age of fish, the fish way to be kept in servceable
condition at all of the year, that the mi
grations of the fnny tribe may not be interfered
with. The law further provides that such ways must
be constructed in accordance with plans and specifca
tons furnished by the state game warden, who is
required respond to all applications Severe pen
alties provided for the violation of both game and
fish laws, circumstance that does not to have
percolated into the understanding of many sports
men. The Rgby Star specifies
The Anderson dam in the South fork of the
Snake river, sixteen miles east of Rigby prevents
fish going up to spawn and is in violation of the
law. 1t has existed for several years, with at
tempt, far as know, to compel the owners of
the said canal and dam to put in fish way. Last
year the Wood Live Stock company constructed
a reservoir on Camas creek a stream noted in this
part of the state for its abundance of fish: AS an
outlet to this dam long conduit made of cement,
etc. three or four feet in diameter has been
structed, for hundred yards more, through which
the water rushes like stream out of fire hose
zle with terrific force and through which it is abb
souely impossible for fish going up stream to pass.
Parties visiting the place this spring say the stream
is alive with fish below this obstruction where they
are compelled to stop account of it, and there
by prevented from going up the stream to spawn,
and while congested below this dam the fish are
caught by thousands by INSCRIPTIONS persons, who
never think of stopping at the 20 pound limit fixed
by law as long as the fish bite we'll
In this connection the suggestion is thrown out by
the Rgby paper that the fishing and shooting clubs
of the state take cognzance of the prevalent disre-
gard for the commands of legislation for the pro-
lection of game and fish, maintaining that the
age individual, citizen game warden will not take
the trouble bring offenders to justice Surely the
position is we'll taken. 1t is everywhere struggle
to protect the wild things of nature whether land
Or in water, and many state has become barren
Of game and fish through the kind of neglect that
prompts these two newspapers to utter their
olants Magnihcently stocked the streams of
Idaho and game is abundant. Both exist in pro-
uson sufficient to attarct the sportsmen of states
ar away. They are worth all the protection the law