The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-08-25
Merchants at Well Attended Meeting
Of Association Approve Reserve
Plan and Size is Only Criticism.
AVERY EXPLAINS SITUATION
Says That Purpose of Sanctuary Will
Fail if Enforcement of Law is Not
Insisted Upon by Sportsmen.
WANT NEXT CONVENTION HERE
Thayer Bailey Appointed Delegate to
Session of State Game Preservation
Association-Blair Encourages.

It was a we'll attended and enthu-
siastic meeting that greeted Carlos
Avery, state game and fish commits
sioner, Tuesday afternoon when he
addressed the members of the Bemidj il
Merchants association on conserva-
tion and propagation of wild game
and fish. With Mr.. Avery was Frank
Blair, secretary of the State Game
Preservation association. who came
here for the purpose of interesting
the local sportsmen in an organiza-
tion to work with him and become a
part of the state and national asso-
ciation
The meeting was presided over by
President Earle A. Barker and was
full of enthusiasm from start to
finish. 1t chose as delegate to the
first Minnesota State Conference of
Sportsmen and Conservationists, At
torney Thayer G. Bailey; approved
the action of establishing a game ref
uge in the vicinity of Bemidji and
urged that it be enlarged; voted the
band an additional 500 for services
rendered on the Fourth of July and
instructed the band committee to
appear before the council at the next
meeting with a view to securing an
appropriation of $1OO to defray band
expenses to the state fair.
Remarkable Advancement.
The talk given by Mr.. Avery was
instructive and interesting. He in
vited the members to ask any ques-
tions with regard to the work of his
department. He said in part: "It
is not a habit with me to throw bou-
quets to all the communities I visit.
l have been in Bemidji a number of
times during the past ten years, but
have not been here for five years past.
Bemidji is deserving of commenda-
ing the past five years.
"The game and fish department of
the state is an important one. 1t
can render the state a good service
with the cooperation Of the various
counties. We are entrusted with the
duty of preserving and increasing the
fch Of cto to Wo
established various fish hatcheries
about the state for the purpose of
propagating game and fish. Bemidji
has a good one and can develop a
much larger institution.
"The St. Paul hatchery for pike is
one Of our big propagating plants
ing to be one Of the biggest and best
in the state. A 25-acre pond for the
Matching Of bass fry is being con-
structed there.
100000 Fry Hatched.
"Seven million trout fry have been
Matched and distributed the past
year, which filled practically all ap-
plications received. At Glenwood
we are constructing a new hatchery
for trout and Duluth will construct a
splendid plant soon. The money for
this plant has been arranged for and
indications are that a practical in
stitution for the propagation of fish
will be erected.
'"This is the first year of Bemidji's
hatchery and it has already proven
a success. There is no reason why
this cannot be made into one of the
leading fish hatcheries in the state.
In walking along your lake shore to-
day I noticed great many of this
years fry dead, as we'll as some of the
older fish. What the reason is can
not explain, but it seems that some
malady has struck the fish in Lake
Bemidji. At present there is no way
to determine the cause. We should
have scientific department connect
ed with the game and fish depart
ment of the state so that cases like
this can be Investigated. If we knew
the reason, we can generally find a
remedy.
II am taking with we some of th5
dead fish and will have them exam
ined and upon hearing the cause, will
cooperate with your citizens here
Refuge Good Thing.
''The game refuge which had the
privilege of hearing discussed this
morning is good thing for Bemidj
and vicinity. l will recommend thai
it be established. 1t will increase
the game around your district. These
refugees are not established to tht
detriment of the hunter and sports
man, but to his advantage. Th'
game is bound to spread in all coun
try tributary to the refuge. At Su
perior Natural Forks we have tn
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