The Cordova daily times., 1916-12-27
G GAME LAWS OF ALASKA NUT
 SUITABLE

WI sh@ @ A@
 Governor Strong discusses in a thorough manner the Alaska game laws in his annual report, submitted to the secretary of the interior. The vestment of power in congress is touched upon and remedies sug- gested
 The Alaska Game Law.
 The control of the game of Alaska is vested in congress, and not in the territorial legislature, although unsuc- cessful attempts have been made to transfer such control to the legisla- ture, where it seems to me it natural ly belongs. When what is known as the Alaska organic act was passed by congress in 1912, congress reserved to itself, among many other powers, the right to legislate for the protection of the game animals, birds and water fowls of Alaska The first comprehen- sive game law for the protection of the game in Alaska was passed in 1902, taking effect August 1, 1903. This law received important amendments in 1908, but it has never been entire ly satisfactory in it's operation in many respects, because of changing conditions, and the fact that some of its provisions are such that 1t has been found difficult to enforce them as it could be desired. It can not be doubted that the people of Alaska are vitally interested in the conservation therefore 1t is submitted that as the legislature directly represents the peo- pie. and being acquainted with condi- tiOns in all the different sections of the territory, it is better qualified to enact laws for the protection of game than is congres. This is a plain pro stration. Three distinct departments exercise control over the game, fish and fur bearing animals. These in clude the department of agriculture, the department of commerce and the governors office. The department of commerce, through the bureau of fish. cries, exercises complete control over the fish and the marine fur bearing animals; the department of agricuI- ture over the terrestrial fur bearing ami mals, while the latter department and the governor of Alaska share in the o1Afetioa of the game laws. The gov p"nOr of Alaska is supposed to exc Cuts the law. but the secretary of az riculture provides the regulations hereunder. The governor appoints the game wardens and guides and is. sues hunting and shipping game H. censes, but the secretary of commerce issues permits for the capture and shipment Of live fur-bearing animals and the secretary of agriculture per mits for the shipment of live game animals, birds and trophies for scien- tific purposes.
 Therefore, does it not appear that the Alaska game law is a thing won derfully made, if not fearfully? This divided responsibility does not work for efficiency in the enforcement of its provisions and regulations nor does is increase respect for the law on the part of the people. There are other peculiarities in the Alaska game law. For instance, the law elassifies the Alaska brown bear as a game animal, and he Is rigidly protected, while his inoffensive blood brother. the black bear, is a fur-bearing animal, and es- teemed not worthy of protection. The latter animal is not vicious. The brown bear is peculiarly so, and a con siderable number of people, including both natives and whites, have been his prey. He is rapacious and predacious and he Is esteemed to be worthy Of a congressional iron cross, presumably because of his fierce and warlike dis position. This animal should not be given protection. and I, therefore, again wish to renew the recommenda. tions carried in my several annual re- ports that the control of game ami i mais Of Alaska be vested iH tho :Gsr:
 torial legislature. where 1t seems to me it manifestly belongs. It is safe to say that an Alaska legislature will not protect the brown bear.
 The game law of Alaska is en- forced as efficiently as Is possible under existing conditions. The ter ritory embraces large area through out which game is scattered indiscrim- inately, and the personnel employed in it's protection is always insufficient