Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-12-14
ACTIVE GRoWTH IN GAME AND
FISH DEPARTMENT AND LIVE
INTEREST m SUBJECT Is
INDICATED.
ANNUAL PRODUCTION is
VALUED AT TEN MILLION
Commercial Fishing Eecomee lmpor-
tart Industry In Minnesota--Tourist
Trade increases With Rapidly
Deer Plentiful Though Bird
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
q live interest In the subject on the
part OF the people OF the state.
Function OF the Department.
The function Of the Game aud irish
Department Ia 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. II should not be mere
~ a police department but TN adj
mlnistrative branch of the state gov
ernment engaged actively In con,
structiye work I'm cooperation with
nil other organizations ond agencies.
Value OF Wild Life Enormous.
Reduced to statistics the annual
value OF Wild life assets of the state
after careful investigation and In.
quiry are estimated as follows:
Tnra, skins and peits ,.... 1,aab, 900
Value al tourist trade ,..,.. 1890, 900
Value of commerce depending
uron game and ish .,.,., 1900, 900
Value OF agriculture OF In
aecflVarous birds ,..,,,,.. $500, 900
Total ..,.,....,,.,.,., 400, 900
Commercial fishing has become an
Important Industry In the state. en-
ploying many hundreds OF mon and
n Ia YfYx In mi aF
ital,
The tourist trade from other states
attracted to Minnesota by the de-
lightful lure of summer motoring,
fishing and camping. liz only In Its
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 view to
building up the supply and not mere.
~ enforcement Of the penal regula.
lions and punishment OF offenders.
Many Prosecutions.
During tho bienniam just closed
there were iT2G prosecutions for VIC.
lation of the game and fish laws.
1879 convictions and so acquittals
$25,e2o.TS was paid In fines. aud 3747
days served In Jail by convicted VIC
iators.
The annual production OF fur in
Minnesota approximates In value
Sl,aiN,sT6,0n. There are taken annual
" about 100000 muskrats, $4,000
skunk. 10000 wolves. and various mum.
bers of ut least twelve other varieties
OF far-bearins animals. Fur farming
has been engaged In to some extent.
Dear Not In Danger.
Deer are reasonably plentiful and
can BIO maintained without closed
seasons by utilizing other rational
methods. such as the establishment of
game refugees, and IL necessary. the
enactment OF buck law. In 1916
5000 deer were 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-
jaeent To this refuge
Beaver are plentiful In some local.
tiles and increasing rapidly under
protection. Bear should be protected
by 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 liz not so
satisfactory. as the depletion of
grouse has become alarming. The
scarcity OF the partridge or ruffled
grouse IL 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
In refugees and closed seasons and pro.
lection from natural enemies.
The situation m to migratory
water fowl In more encouraging ow-
ing to the beneficial effect OF the Mi
gratory Bird Law which protects the
migrating birds In the spring or
breeding seasoa.
Great Areas In Sanctuartes.
Game refugees offer an encourag
Ing method OF restoring wild life
and Minnesota has now l,9io.S5s
acres or land set apart for wild life
sancsuaries.
Better provision is needed for pa
trolling and protection of game sanc
tuaries which are already established
ana which are demanded In yariou.