Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-26
MAN VS.. GAME.

USI HOW MUCh money mas Deen
appropriated by the legislature at
the session now about to end, for
the protection of game, cannot at this
writing be stated, though The Capital
Journal will look into It later, and
will perhaps have something TO say
thereon. In the meanwhile 1t might
be stated that the people, judging from
the acts Of their representatives, the
legislators, have gone somewhat daffy
on this subject of game protection
There are game preserves set aside, or
TO be set aside at the sweet will Of the
state game warden in all sections Of
the state, On these game birds and
pretty nearly all others are sacred.
The owner Of the land even, dare not
kill or molest them, though he has to
supply the wood, water and grass for
them. They must supply nesting
places for them besides. In fact, the
fad has been carried to that extent,
that a white man has no rights that
the game animals or birds are bound
to respect
The birds may eat his seed wheat If
they desire, or anything else that is
his, and he has no right to object. The
China pheasants can take possession
of his garden, scratch up his lettuce,
feed on his suCculent young radishes,
rovcl in his onion bed, any old thing
they want, and his only remedy is to
ask them to please deslst or request
them to stay out He may even shoe
them shoe or two, If he doesn't real
ly frighten them so they will leave the
neghborhood; but If they want to stay
and visit with him, he has no remedy.
The beaver may 30 down into his
bitches that drain his swamp land and
proceed to dam them and flood him out
just as the dam notion takes them.
True, he may tear out the dams, but
he dare not kill the beaver, and the
persistent little pests can annoy him
and cause him to lose the use Of his
land, unless by the exercise Of eternal
vigilance he pays the price Of liberty,
and this can only be done by sitting
mp with them all night.
As case in point, the state Asy-
lum for the Insane maintains q farm
near that institution for the purpose
Of growing farm produce for the use
Of the patients and employees, nearly
1000 all told At this farm there is
quite large tract sown to wheat. The
protected game, the wild geese have
somehow discovered that they have an
interest in that wheat field, and the
inaIicnable right to feed therein As
n consequence about ljO Of them have
located on the place, and they manage
90 keep II pretty well dcpastured. The
attendants dare not shoot them, and
they apparently know II, and when
someone Is sent out TO rrIghtcn them
away, they simply nuttor off to not
FAR distant portion Of the field and pro-
coed to finish their disturbed meal.
They may be scared mp 0rty times a
day hut they viii not leave. and when
in another month they leave for Alas
la, or their Matching grounds in the
far north, they will probably be seen
no more here forever or II they are
they will como back TO the asylum
farm perhaps, bringing their families
with them.
Now all this Is done presumably to
furnish sport for rod and gun clubs,
but does Il? A reasonable protection
of game is all right, q clo5odt3cason Of
reasonable limits, for instance cover
ing the Matching or breeding season.
but This thing Of giving them superior
rights TO the owners Of the land ON
which they find their habitatlon In GER
talnly going the limit when beavers
are allowed to take possession Of a
mans farm, II Is high time 10 call a
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