Iditarod pioneer., 1914-08-15
ALASKA GAME LAWS
 WILL NOT BE MODIFIED

Delegate Wickersham has written the fol- lowing letter to the Nome Chamber of Com merce relative to the request that the shoot ing season for birds in Alaska be length ! ened
 'Your telegram and letters about the closed season for bird shooting has almost disrupted the bureaus and agricultural de partments After incubating for some weeks they have concluded that they will do nothing, which l guessed at the beginning. There is no difficulty to get laws, rules and regulations restricting the people of the Territory of Alaska in the shooting of game or breathing the fresh air, but any effort to get little more freedom along these lines is met with an instant rebutf.
 q send you herewith a copy of letter which 1 have just received from the secre- tary of agriculture, in which he goes over the situation fully and says he cannot do it.. The truth IS the department IS agalnst any more liberal game laws for blrd shooting in Alaska 1 doubt if there will be any chance to get change in these laws since the department and bureau will strongly oppose any more Eberality and l shall certainly oppose any further restrictions" ,"
 Following is a copy of the letter received by Mr Wickersham from the secretary of agriculture concerning the request for a longer open season:
 Referring to your letter of April P, in closing a copy of a communication from the United States attorney at Nome, Alaska, relative to a petition which has been for warded to the department from residents in Alaska asking for an extension ot the season for shooting birds in that territory, 1 may say that serious consideration has been given the whole question of bird shoot ing in Alaska by the officers of the bureau concerned, as well as by the solicitor ot the department and myself.
 q regret that it seems impossible under existing laws to grant the petition The open and closed seasons were specifically fixed by the act of congress approved May II, 190S and the law contains no provi- sion which would permit the secretary of agriculture to shorten the closed season, while the migratory bird law, which was approved March 4, 1913, might possibly be construed to permit the secretary of agrl- culture to modify the regulations governing bird shooting in Alaska, 1t IS very doubtful, and such a construction would l believe, be contrary to the intent of cohgress.
 "Even if such construction were pos sible, the secretary would have no authority under the law to alter the provisions which prohibit the shipment or sale of game dur ing the closed season. If therefore, the act approved March 4, 1913, could be construed to give the secretary of agriculture author ty to extend the open season tor shooting birds in Alaska, a serious conflict would arise and furthermore, it would open up the whole question of spring shooting on the Pacific coast.
 "In view of the foregoing, the depart ment has reached the concluslcn that It cannot do otherwise than decline to grant the petition or make any modification i'll the game regulations relating to Alaska.
 Tn this connection, however, l would call vour attention to the fact that there is provision in the Alaska game law which provides that nothing in the law shall pre- bird for food or clothing at any time by natives CT by miners or explorers when in need of food, but that the game animals or birds so killed during the closed season cannot be shipped or sold"
 Protection for Fur Animals
 Under regulations issued by the depart ment of commerce the hunting and killing of sea otter IS prohibited until November |, 1920, and beaver until November l. 1918. Closed seasons are also prescribed as fol lows:
 On land otter and mink, from April to November 15; on marten (Amercan sable), from March 15 to November 15; on weasel (ermine), from March 15 to November 15; on muskrat, from June l to November 30 j; on lynx (wildcat), frcm March l to No vember 15, and on fox, from March l to November 15.
 The killing of black bear, wolf, wolverine, squirrel and hare (rabbit) is permitted at all times, and land otter and mink may be taken alive for breeding purposes at any time except from April 1 to June 30. Mar ten can also be taken alive for breeding purposes except from March b to June 50.
 The use of poison in the killing of fur bearing animals is prohibited at all times, as also is the killing of any animal whose skin or pelt is not prime
 Heavy penalties are provided for viola # ba rac,,latIoDC