Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1915-11-25

When Daniel Boone and his sturdy
pioneers came to Kentucky by the
Wilderness road they found land fer
tile beyond their widest hopes,
Astounding with game and fish, upon
which they were dependent for food
and clothing. In reaching Kentucky,
Boone and his followers found that
the Indian tribes to the north south
and west had preceded them. To Ken
lucky the Indians made annual pilgrim.
age to kill their winter supply OF game,
which was found in great abundance
and of splendid quality. At that time
there was game in plenty for all, but
the Indians looked with disfavor upon
the presenceNof the white man, realiz'
ing that it meant the destruction OF
their favorite hunting grounds should
they be left to occupy the land, SO they
stubbornly resisted by every possible
means the advancement of the foreign
hunter.
The Indian did not kill to excess and
was determined that his happy hunting
ground should not be destroyed Their
stubborn resistance made the name
and early history Of "Kaintuckee" typ
ical of its Indian name, Dark and
Bloody Ground"
The pioneer, like the Indian, took
only of this supply for food and raj
ment, but with civilization grew the
sport of hunting for pleasure, and so
wantonly was game destroyed by this
class of citizens that thoughtful and
representative men soon realized that
If game was to be conserved for future
generations, it was necessary to enact
laws protecting them during the breed.
ing season.
The first rame laws in Kentucky, OF
which there is any record, were passed
in 1922, and were for the protection 81
fish. In fact, most of the early laws
were measures for fish protection. Al
that time all laws in the state upon
this subject were local or county laws
and remained so until the adoption Of
the present Constitution. Since that
time all laws enacted upon this sub
ject have been state measures, apply
ing alike to each county in the state
To the county authorities were charged
the enforcement of measures of thi:
CHARACTER. .!-.--...---!,.--.....
To the average citizen there was
, little necessity for the enforcement o.
these measures; in fact, there was sc
little public sentiment for the enforce
iment of these laws that they were
1openly violated without fear of prose
cution. To those who gave the subiec
thought, it was apparent that it wa
necessary to create a new law and en-
trusting to and charging others anC
specially named officers with their en-
forcement.
A bill was introduced in the 1910 ses
sion of the Legislature providing 70
the creation of Game and Fish Con
mission, but was defeated. A similo
measure, possibly wider in scope, wa
introduced in 1912 and enacted int
law, which became effective in 1917
This law is found in its entirety II
Chapter So, Acts 1912.
To this Commission and its agent
are entrusted the enforcement of tn
law and the restocking of fields an
"A streams with game and fish. Authorit
was given to the Commission to al
point wardens throughout the state t
"A enforce the law. Chapter 80, Act
1912, made no changes in the then e.
Wing game laws, except that It pre-
led that all hunters when hunting o
heir own land or that Immediately az
1oining their own, with the permissio
y OF the owner, should first secure
hunting license, for which they wer
to pay the County Court Clerk 81. TIL
clerks were allowed to retain 10 cent
for each license, directing that tn
remainder be sent to the Treasurer {
the State, to be placed to the credit {
the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
The law provided that five thousan
(s5,OOO) dollars should be appropriate
for the maintenance of the departmei
during its first year. This sum, hoy
ever, to be in the nature.of loan, an
directed that the Commission shoul
return this sum-or as much there,
as used--to the Treasurer from Il
first moneys collected from the sale