The Tomahawk., 1916-12-21
tTATE COMMISSIONER FINDS LIVE
INTEREST IN SUBJECT IN MIN
NESOTA-ACTiVE GROWTH IN
DEPARTMENT INDICATED.
ANNUAL PRODUCTION is
VALUED AT TEN MILLION
Commercial Fishing Becomes lmpor-
tant Industry in M.nnesota-Tourist
Trade increases With Rapidity-
Deer Plentiful Though Bird
Situation Not Satisfactory.


Situation Not Satisfactory.
St. Paul-The biennial report of the
Minnesota Game and Fish Department
which has just been filed with the
Governor as required by law, contains
much information relative to the wild
life assets of the state and indicates
active growth in that department and
a live interest in the subject on the
part of the people of the state.
The function Of the Game and Fish
Department is to coordinate and en-
ploy all agencies that tend to arrest
the destruction Of wild life and to en-
courage every attempt at building up
this resource. 1t should not be mere
ly a police department but an ad-
ministrative branch Of the state gov
eminent engaged actively in con-
structive work in cooperation with
all other organizations and agencies.
Value Of Wild Life Enormous.
Reduced to statistics the annual
after careful investigation and il
quiry are estimated as follows:
Food value Of game and fish $20oo,00o
Vaiue Of tourist trade ~. 100000
Value of commerce depending
upon game and fish ...... 3oOO, OOO
Value of agriculture Of in
sectiVorouS birds 2ooO,00O
Commercial fishing has become an
important industry in the stats. en-
ploying many hundreds Of men and
requiring a large investment OF cap
ital.
The tourist trade from other states
attracted to Minnesota by the de-
lightful lure of summer motUring,
fishing and camping, is only in it's
infancy and will increase with great
rapidity.
Efficient Warden Service Essential.
All possible effort has been made
to administer the laws governing
game and fish with common sense
and discretion and with a view to
building up the supply and not mere
ly enforcement Of the penal regula-
lions and punishment Of offenders.
Many Prosecutions.
During the biennium just closed
there were 1926 prosecutions for vio-
lation of the game and fish laws;
1879 convictions and 60 acquittals.
$25,62O.7S was paid in fines, and 3747
days served in jail by convicted vio-
lators.
The annual production of fur in
Minnesota approximates in value
s1,3lO,875.OO. There are taken annual
ly about 100000 muskrats, $4,000
skunk, 10000 wolves, and various num-
bers of at least twelve other varieties
of fur-bearing animals. Fur farming
has been engaged in to some extent.
Deer Not In Danger.
Deer are reasonably plentiful and
can be maintained without closed
seasons by utilizing other rational
methods, such as the establishment of
game refugees, and, if necessary, the
enactment Of a buck law. In 1915
5000 deer we're killed by licensed
hunters.
Moose depend almost wholly upon
the hyperion Refuge for their future
in this state, and hunting will be
largely confined to the territory ad-
jacent to this refuge.
Beaver are plentiful in some local
files and increasing rapidly under
protection. Bear should be protected
by a closed season, as they are valu-
able, particularly for fur.
Birds Aid Agriculture.
The economic value of the birds is
enormous, particularly on account of
their aid to agriculture, horticulture
and forestry. The protection Of non
game birds is receiving more attention
and clubs and societies are being form
ed for this purpose.
The game bird situation is not so
satisfactory, as the depletion Of
grouse has become alarming. The
scarcity of the partridge or ruffled
grouse is noted everywhere, and
prairie chicken are few except in
certain limited area. There are not
enough prairie chickens and other
grouse in Minnesota to warrant
shooting them unless conditions can
be improved. The remedy proposed
is refugees and closed seasons and pro-
lection from natural enemies.
The situation as to migratory
water fowl is more encouraging Ow-