Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-18
OUR GAME LAWS
Warden Bancroft Makes Recommend
atoms in His Report

atoms in His Report
MISUNDERSTANDING that the South
Dakota game law has operated salts
factorily during it's first year ending
July J last, and that the department
of game and fish accomplished much
more than was expected by its friends
the first annual report of the depart
ment has been completed by State
Game Warden w. f. Bancroft of this
city and will be transmitted to Gov
ernor Vessey
The report embodies Mr.. Brancrofts
recommendations to the next legisa-
ture. Several minor changes are de-
sired by tn department, the defects
having been detected in the first years
experience. 1t is urged that the ap-
pointing power of the county game
Wardens be taken out of the hands Of
the county commissioners and either
vested in the state game warden, or
be made an elective office. In many
counties county game wardens have
been lax in their duty and the state
game warden has no way to force
their hand as the law now stands.
The entire abolition of spring shoot
ing is advised. The Minnesota law is
cited as worthy example. Better
regulation of SEEMING for fish, is asked.
The department wishes to stop all
seining except such as is specifically
authorized by the state game warden
FISH HATCHERY WANTED.
The warden says he is planning two
projects-first, the establishment of
state fish hatchery, and second the IN
PRODUCTION Of the Chinese ring neck
phaesants into the game fields Of the
state. The state game fund will &C
cumulate rapidly at a rate of better
than 10000 a year. The department
wishes to use the fund for these pur-
poses.
There were issued in the state last
year 26,1s9 resident licenses. 1S3 non
resident lcenuses for feathered game
! Il for big game, 81 for fishing, and
| for trapping From these the state
| derived a net revenue of $14,642., Of
which there remains in the treasury
| afr paying all the expenses of the
game department, including the salary
Of the state warden, about $4,000.
The nonresident license fees alone
will pay the expenses of the depart
ment
BAN ON CHICKEN SHOOTING
NEAR END.
No mention is made of the prairie
chicken proposition in which the
sportsmen of the state now have the
greatest interest. The present law
ends the closed season next September
and the 1911 legislature must make a
new provision. Concerning this Mr..
Bancroft says:
| no, Gn.{f-
| mert of the sportsmen in every sec
ton of the state find there is wide
difference of opinion as to what
should be done. Hence I did not take
the matter up. | will call meeting
of the county game wardens in Huron
during the state fair and will extend
the invitation to all spo tsmen who
wish to be present. There we vii
thresh the matter out and des1d"d
possible upon what is best. | think,
however, that CHI cken shooting will
be permitted in So tn Dakota during
the fall of 1911, as the birds are plen-
tiful, having increased very rapidly
this year. But it will be for short
time only, probably for fifteen Gays
Rapid Following the inspec-
tioH of several sites by a commit e:
which included A. c. Pueschel, nation
al secretary, and j. q. Nebbe gal
state secretary, a plot of ground nea.
here has been selected by the 8 ate
Y. M. C. A. for g park and camping
ground, and party OF boys viii be
taken there this month by the secre-
tary. An effort will also be made tc
secure a grant from the government
to establish permanent park, as ths
site is natural beauty spot several
!, hundred feet above Rapid City, and Is
held by various owners as placer
! ground.