The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-08-19
WILL SOON KILL GAME.

WILL SOON KILL GAME.
!
Many Defects Pointed OUT In Present
Stakutes on Fish and Game
sshouId Change Laws.
Grangeville, Aug. Ito the Tribune.
As the opening OF the game season
approaches all the sportsmen of Idaho
VIII begin to study the game laws and
prepare to get their share of the game
and fish. and while doing so they little
realize the value Of the fish and game
to the state.
1t has been estimated that there are
at least 5000 deer and 200 elk killed
In this state every year and figuring
that deer is worth s25 and an elk
worth ,$75, 1t would make a total of
$4,000, with enough game birds to
bring the total to $3.50, O00 This Is
simply an estimate but II is safe to
say that we are not very far from the
right figures.
This is not the only source OF rev.
enue that comes from the fish and
game department. We have as fine
fishing in Idaho as is found In the
west; the streams abound with many
kinds of game fish such as the trout,
bass, whitefish, salmon, sturgeon and
perch. The sale of whitefish in lake
Pend oReille alone amounts to about
$4,000 each year and several of the
other lakes produce as well. When a
person stops to think Of all the fish
the anglers catch in the course of a
year 1t Is safe to estimate that 1t Is
not placing the value too high when 1t
is placed at $250.000. The fur-bearing
animals add about $4,000 to 500. 1000
to these figures, so that the revenues
derived by the anglers, hunters and
trappers amount to about $500, 600 a
year. Now II this estimate is any way
near correct. isn't 1t true that the gem
eral public should wake up and aid
the game department in every way to
Improve the system of game preserva-
tion instead Of putting up the argu-
ment that the game laws are OF no use
and that the game and fish don't
amount to anything?
The only revenues that keep up this
department are derived from the sale
OF licenses and money collected from
Zines, and If every one did their duty
the amount collected would be greatly
increased and 1t would be possible for
the department to accomplish much
more than 1t has in the past.
1t Is an admitted fact that the pres
ent system of the game department. Is
not the best in the world, but the
sportsmen of Idaho are trying to de-
wise some better method ana the ma
iority OF them are In favor of the
commission form that Is being used
so successfully in other states. There
are several weak points in the present
system, one being that 1t is too much
20 expect a man to do good work on
SO a day when the expense will amount
20 nearly the days wage. Another is
he fact that politics often interfere
and the best men are not selected for
the Jobs. There are four classes that
fish and game laws should cover, as
follows: Big game, game birds, fish
and fur-bearing animals.
In the first named class the moose
and the antelope are not plentiful
enough to ever have an open season.
the elk have increased in some OF the
counties so. that 1t is thought advis-
able by many TO have an open season
and set the limit at one bull elk The
mountain sheep and the goats are rap
Idly disappearing and the present law
should be extended for the next ten
years. The present deer law. is In
hoped that the sportsmen will with
hold their criticisms OF II until 1t has
oeen tried out. because It has worked
IN good shape in some OF the other |
states and may work out all right in |
this state
The game birds of the state are d. |
vided into two classes--the water fowl
and the upland birds. The first class
is protected by the federal law, but in
this state it should be opened on Sep
TENDER / instead of October 1. because
many OF the birds have left before the
present season opens. The upland
birds consist Of blue grouse, ruffed
grouse. quail, sage hens. Chinese pleas
ants, mourning doves and prairie sharp
tail grouse commonly called prairie
chickens.) Quail should be protected
for at least five years and doves
should not be classed as game birds.
The season on grouse should open
August Is In all sections OF the state
Instead Of opening August Is on the
south side OF Salmon river and Sep
tember on the north side. The sea-
son on sage hens should open at the
same time as the grouse season. as it
win eliminate many violations.
The prairie sharp-tail grouse should 4