The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-13
SUGGESTS CHANGE
IN GAME LAW
Re Has Resolved Cooperation of The
[>ople OF his District to man.


). Of condit ,us of the local headquarters
of tie game and fish department of
the state.
Muskegee, Ok, Dec. III, 1912
Hon. Jno b. 'Doolin,
State Fish and Came Warden,
oklahoma City, Okla.
My Dear SIR
Yours received, Since l have it'd
charge of the deputy game wardeA's 3
Office for the 18th district have iplac-
in Illinois and Barren Fork rivers a,
bout seven thousand lingering bass
avergeing from four and one hasf to
fire inches. About i've thousand of
taese stock fish were furnished by the
State Fish and Game Wardens office
and about two Thousand by the Nat
iional Government, the FIRST we have
received from thar source since state
;aood
tnhe game aud ftsh have been as we'll
protected as il 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 osavictions were sein.
ing dynaniting, !killing game out of
season and bunSing without license.
l think the ruling of Attorney Gen.
eral West, that aone half of the fines
for violation go to the counties in
which prosecutions are had, has had
a good effect, as 1T has placed the coun
ty officers in closer touch with our de-
partment and made the counties
, more of a direct and local 5iuterest
the department
BY the close cof the season | will
have sold betwee twelve and thirteen
thousand licenses, for the two seasons
and the number sthis season will ex-
ceed that of last season. This is many
more than expected to seilaand more
than your Office rhought / could sell.
l have through you placed many sett-
ings of pheasant eggs in the counties
of my district, but have not had the
success had kopad for. Stillywe have
quite number Of birds scattered over
ny territory.
| ha found t'ne sportsman to be
almost unit in support of the fish
:fnd game laws.
The farmers are tor il over my ter
fitory, almost to man In the first
place the law Itself posts his fenced
lands, without trouble on his part,
making it necessary &or hunters to
secure his permission before hunting
game on his farm. Usually when he
asked for permission he is asked to
show bis license, as many of the faES1-
ers are assistant game mardens.
When the license is shown it gives
the name, age, residence, and descript-
ion of the holder and if 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, c,lnales tine hunter much more |
careful than they would be otherwise.
/ have had many farmers TO tell De /
that whenever the state was in pos
ition 10 furnish fish in considerable
quantities they mcant 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 S.25, K
good from May to May. and good s
.or both hunting and fishing, it would =
lelp and relieve this complaint. {
AS to suggestions as to changes. etc. I
First, think the words deputy
game warden should be changed to
district game wardens, as the terms
deputy and assistant are misleading
and confusing. q
We should have two fish hatcheries &
Us soon as we can get them. One for i
the east side and one for the west side ]
With men in charge of them who un- \
the fish business and who c
filI devote their time and attention to
t, ! fell sure we can raise many thous-
Atds of fish and at much less cost