The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-11
SUGGESTS CHANGE
IN GAME LAW
He Has Received Cooperation of The
People OF his District to man.

warden for the eleventh district in
the following letter replies to a re-
quest from the office of the state
fish and game warden for statement
of conditions of the local headquarters
of the game and fish department of
the state.
Muskogee, Ok, Dec. II, 1912.
Hon. Juo. b. Doolin,
State Fish and Game Warden,
Oklahoma City, Okla.
My Dear SIR
Yours received. Since | have had
charge of the deputy game warden's
Office for the 18th district have plac-
in Illinois and Barron Fork rivers a.
bout seven thousand lingering bass
avergeing from four and one half to
five inches About five thousand of
these stock fish were furnished by the
State Fish and Game Warden's office
and about two thousand by the Nat
ional Government, the first we have
received from that source since state
hood.
The game and fish have been as well
protected as it has been possible to
protect them and in very few localit-
les are complaints now made. There
have been convictions for violations of
the laws in every county in my dis
trict. These convictions were sein-
ing dynamiting, killing game out of
season and hunting without license.
think the ruling of Attorney Gen
eral West, that one half of the fines
for violation go to the counties in
which prosecutions are had, has had
a good effect as it has placed the coun
ty officers in closer touch with our de-
partment and made the counties feel
more of a direct and local interest in
the department.
BY the close of the season | will
have sold betwee twelve and thirteen
thousand licenses, for the two seasons
and the number this season will ex-
ceed that of last season. This is many
more than expected to sell and more
than your Office thought could sell.
| have through you placed many sett-
ings of pheasant eggs in the counties
of my district, but have not had the
success had hoped for. Still we have
quite number of birds scattered over
my territory.
| ha found the sportsman to be
almost a unit in support of the fish
and game laws.
The farmers are for it over my ter
ritory, almost to a man. In the first
place the law itself posts his fenced
lands, without trouble on his part,
making it necessary for hunters to
secure his permission before hunting
game on his farm. Usually when he
asked for permission he is asked to
show his license, as many of the farm
ers are assistant game wardens.
When the license is shown it gives
the name, age, residence, and descript-
ion of the holder and il any stock are
injured, fences torn down or other
knows exactly where to go and who
to hold responsible. Knowing that
the farmer knows his name address,
ETC., makes the hunter much more
careful than they would be otherwise.
have had many farmers to tell me
that whenever the state was in pos
ition to furnish fish in considerable
quantities they meant to have lakes
or large ponds on their premises and
have them stocked with such species
of fish as are best adapted for their
localities.
The only objection | have heard to
the laws as they now exist, has been
from some hunters who do not fish.
They feel that the men who fish and
who do not hunt should be made to
contribute to the fund, as they receive
as much or more protection of fish and
stocking the streams, etc. If it could
be so arranged that the license be
kept at the same price as it is $.25,
good from May to May, and good
for both hunting and fishing, it would
help and relieve this complaint
AS to suggestions as to changes, etc.
First, think the words deputy
game warden should be changed to
district game wardens, as the terms
deputy and assistant are misleading
and confusing.
We should have two fish hatcheries
as soon as we can get them. One for
the east side and one for the west side
With men in charge of them who un-
derstand the fish business and who
will devote their time and attention to
it. fell sure we can raise many thous-
ands of fish and at much less cost