The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1915-11-26

When Daniel Boone and his sturdy
pioneers came to Kentucky by the
Wilderness road they found land fer.
tile beyond their widest hopes
abounding with game and fish, upon
which they we're 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. Al that time
there was game in plenty for all, but
the Indians looked with ut#tGyor upon
the presence of 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 bunting
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
HnatrNUAH hy this
class of citizens that thoughtful and
representative men soon realized that
II game was TO be conserved for future
generations, II was necessary to enact
laws protecting them during the breed
ing season.
The first game laws in Kentucky, of
which there is any record, we're passed
in 1929, and were for the protection of
fish In fact, most OF the early laws
were measures for fish protection At
that time all laws in the state upon
this subject were local OF 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 this
character
To the average citizen there was
little necessity for the enforcement OF
these measures; in fact. there was so
little public sentiment for the enforce
ment OF these laws that they were
openly violated without fear of prose,
cution. To those who gave the subject
thought II was apparent that it was
necessary to create new law and en-
trusting to and charging others and
specially named officers with their en-.
forcement
A bill was introduced in the 1910 SEES
sion OF the Legislature providing for
the creation OF Game and Fish Com
mission, but was detected similar
measure. possibly wider in scope, was
introduced in 1912 and enacted into
! law, which became effective in 1912
| This law is found in its entirety il
| Chapter IS. Acts 1912
4 ~ WIS anu ilb dktul'
| are entrusted the enforcement OF The
law and the restocking OF fields anC
streams with game md fish. Authorit!
VS. given to the Commission to APP
point wardens throughout the state e
enforce the law Chapter IS, Act
1912, made no changes in the then eI
listing game laws, except that 1t pro
vided that all hunters when hunting OF
their own land or that Immediately ad
Joining their own. with the permission
of the owner. should first secure |
hunting license, for which they wer'
to pay the County Court Clerk 81. Thu
clerks were allowed 70 retain Is cent
Tor each license, directing that tn,
remainder be sent to the Treasurer o
the State to be placed to the credit o
the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
The law provided that fve Thousand
(s5. OO0) dollars should be appropriated
Tor the maintenance OF the department
during its first year This sum, how
ever, to be in the nature OF loan, ant
directed that the Commission should
return this sum-or as much thereo
as used-to the Treasurer from tn
frst moneys collected from the sale o