The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-16
GAME WARDEN IS
PAYING OFFICE
Demand For Hunters Licenses Has
Greatly Inereased-What Report
of John Doolln Reveals.

Oklahoma City, June 14.-That the
state fish and game wardens depart
ment is one of the most productive
revenue producers in the state, If not
the most productive, is shown by fig
ures prepared at the Office of Warden
John B. Doolin, in which it appears
that the department, since the adop
tion of the present game laws in 1909
has turned over to the state net
profit in excess of 100000
This .ncome is derived from tax on
hunters licenses and from fines col,
lected for violation of the law. War.
den Doolins long suit" is enforce
ment of the law and the punishment
of vioIators. There are now, 1t is
stated, ten prosecutions where there
formerly was one.
Residence licenses to the number OF
125,000 have been issued since the
game law was passed, while Ais hun
ters have received nonresident IL
censes and four alien licenses have
been granted For the home hunters,
the fee is $1.25, for non-residents of
the state it is SIS, and for aliens $25.
The total sum received from licenses
is $131 900. Fines collected have to-
tailed s2,240.20, and since June, 1909,
the department has turned over to the
state treasurer the sum Of $133,565.20.
The cost of running the Office to the
first of the year was 100000, leaving
a balance of over 100000.
Propagation of game and fish is in
cluded In expenses, and much has been
accomplished in this line. Live pleas
ants to the number of $500 have been
distributed throughout the state, to-
gether with 10000 pheasants' eggs
The eggs are hatched by bantam hens,
and propagation in this manner has
been found quite effective. There are
now 10000 pheasants in Oklahoma.
Streams of the state have been stock
ed recently with 10000 trout and crop
pies, which are multiplying very rap
idly ilr fact from all kinds of game
and fish the reports received have been
the most encouraging and Oklahoma
hunters and anglers are to enjoy the
best kind of sport with game and fish
plentiful.
The Oklahoma game laws which
Warden Doolin declares are the best
in the country, protect every kind of
game bird with. the exception of the
English sparrow, hawk. owl, crow, buz-
zard, jay and blackbird, all of which
are enemies or other birds or destruc-
tive to crops.
Few realize to what an extent the
department has been recognized and
systematlzed by Mr. Doolin. The state
has been divided into twelve districts,
each under the direct charge of dep
uty who has full authority to enforce
the game laws, and also of policing
the territory in his charge. Each
deputy recommends the appointment
of his assistants. who are passed upon
by the department. It has been Gus
tom with Mr.. Doolin to name editors
of papers in a number of towns
Throughout. the state as deputies, and
the cooperation of the newspapers
have been secured.
As a result of the strict enforcement
of the law, the demand for hunters
licenses has increased to an unprece-
dented extent and the present season
will see many more issued The pen.
atty for any person found hunting off
his own place without a license and
for other violations of the laws has
been fixed at from $50 to 500 fine, or
in lieu of the fine a Jail sentence of
from ten to thirty days. This has had
an excellent effect in breaking up the
practice of violating the law, and sport
in the hunting and fishing line is being
put on an ideal plane in Oklahoma.