The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-05-30
GAME COM MISSION
is CRITICISED IN STRONG AND
DIRECT WORDS.
PROTECTION SO.CALLED
Is Delusive-The Wholesale Destruction
of Fish and Game Is Permitted Under
the System Of License now in Force
by Authority of the Commission.

At the meeting of the Caddo Game
and Fish Protective Association held
Thursday afternoon the resolutions fol-
lowing were adopted:
Be it resolved, That this association
put itself on record as dissenting wholly
from the position taken by the Board of
Game Commissioners at its recent meet
ing in New Orleans.
We concur in the proposition that the
game and fish found in this State are
the property of the State and should be
enjoyed by every one of our children
without any distinction whatever. We
know that this board was created for
the purpose of conserving the game and
fish that we have, and we naturally have
right to expect this board to take the
necessary steps to carry out the objects
of its creation. But instead of finding it
doing these things we now see that it is
seeking to comnercialize sport to aid
III the destruction of our natural re
sources and not to conserve them, and
that it is seeking to take from our citi
zens the pleasure, recreation and benefit
to be derived from hunting and fishing.
It is plain that the president, by the
course he has pursued, has departed
from his original position and now pro-
poses to convert the matter into a
money making proposition, and in as
Stunning the position taken at its last
meeting the commission puts itself on
recgd as adopting view that is in OPP
position to the position taken by every
other game commission i'll the United
Staets. The commission knows, or
should know, that i'll favoring market
hunters it is doing more to countenance
the destruction Of game than it could
do i'll any other manner.
We take issue with the statement that
small minority of the $4,000 licensed
hunters in this State is planning to OBJ
tain possession of the game of the
State by having the General Assembly
enact laws prohibiting the sale Of game,
but we do say that almost all the
licensed hunters are in favor of such a
law and will use all their. influence to
have it passed, because they know that
legislation Of that kind is the best con-
servation measure that could be adopt
ed, and we know also that we will be
opposed III this by the commission, aided
and abetted by the game dealers and
market hunters. The record of the COM
mission shows that instead Of aligning
itself with those whom it knows are
working for the preservation of the
game it has constantly been lending its
influence and power to the most de-
structive enemies of the game, the game
dealer and market hunter.
The president, by his constant refer
ence to the $4,000 licensed hunters
(who by no means constitute all of the
people of our State who want to see
our game and fish protected) seeks to
| put them in a special class asking for
special privileges, when as a matter of
fact they are asking nothing of the kind
| but are. doing all in their power to do
what the commission was created for,
but has failed to do, and what the COM
missions of other States are doing for
the conservation of game and fish. In
stead of asking special privileges, we are
opposing the creation of the class the
commission is seeking to create with
special privileges. Until very recently
THE president of the commission was
thoroughly in accord with us, but for
some reason unknown to lis he has ur1-
dergone complete change of heart.
Be it further resolved, That as body
and as individuals we will use our in
huence and power to oppose the COM
/ mission in its efforts to prevent salutary
Legislation and to permit the wholesale
destruction Of game and fish by the class
which the commission seeks to favor,
market hunters and fishermen.
Be it further resolved, That we put
yourselves on record as being in favor Of
having the members of this commission
elected by the people according to the
true democratic principles Of govern
Inent
i Be it further resolved, That the sec
rotary communicate our views to oul
neighboring associations and the press