The bee., 1916-01-04

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 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 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 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 game laws in Kentucky, OF
which there is any record, we're passed
in 1922, and were for the protection oi
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 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 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, 1t was apparent that 1t was
necessary to create a new law and en-.
trusting to and charging others and
specially named officers with their en-
forsement.
A bill was introduced in the 1910 ses
sion Of the Legislature providing for
the creation OF a Game and Fish Com.
mission, but was defeated. A simLaS
measure, possibly wider in scope, was
introduced In 1912 and enacted into
law. which became effective In 1919.
This law is found in its entirety in
Chapter 96, Acts 1912.
To this Commission and its agents
are entrusted the enforcement OF the
law and the restocking of fields and
streams with game and fish. Authority
was given to the Commission to ap
point wardens throughout the state to
enforce the law. Chapter 80, Acts
1912, made no changes in the then ex.
isting game laws, except that it 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 a
hunting license, for which they were
to pay the County Court Clerk 81. The
clerks were allowed to retain Is cents
for each license, directing that the
remainder be sent to the Treasurer OF
the State, to be placed to the credit OF
the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
The law provided that five thousand
(S5,000) dollars should be appropriated
for the maintenance of the department
during It's first year. This sum, how
ever, to be in the nature of a loan, and
directed that the Commission should
return this sum-or as much thereof
as used-to the Treasurer from the
first moneys collected from the sale OF