Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-12-14
ACTIVE GROWTH IN GAME AND
FISH DEPARTMENT AND LIVE
INTEREST IN SUBJECT IS
INDICATED.
ANNUAL PRODUCTION IS
VALUED AT TEN MILLION
Commercial Fishing Eccomce impor.
tart Industry In Minnesota---Tourist
Trade increases With Rapidly
Deer Plentiful Though Bird
Situation Not Satisfactory.

Decr FlentHuf 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
a live interest In the subject on the
part OF the people Of the state.
Function OF the Department.
The function of the Game and IRISH
Department is to coordinate and EN-.
pioy all agencies that tend to arrest
the destruction Of wild life and to Ell
courage every attempt at building up
this resource. It should not be mere.
iy a police department but an ad-
ministratiye branch of the state gov.
ernment engaged actively In con.
structive work In cooperation with
all other organizations and agencies.
Value OF Wild Life Enormous.
Reduced TO statistics the annual
value OF Wild life assets OF tho state
after careful investigation and In.
curry are estimated as follows.
reed vaiuo Of game ana fish $4,000 900
v wa,rs. ssina ena petit 49, , 5oo oa o
Value OF commerce depending
upon game and tisli ..., 1900. 900
Value OF agriculture OF In
Aectivofnua birds ....+.,., $500, 900
Total ......, ,.t,,...... 49,. $40, SOC. 900
Commercial fishing has become an
important industry In the state. en-
pioymg many hundreds of mon and
requiring large Investment of cap.
ftnl.
The tourist trade from other states
attracted to Minnesota by the de-
lightful lure OF summer motoring
fishing and camping, IL 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.
~ enforcement of the penal regula.
tions and Punishment of offenders.
Many Prosecutions.
During the biennium just closed
there we're lTs6 prosecutions for VIC.
lation OF tho game and fish laws.
i6Ta convictions and GO aequittals
$25.es0.1s was paid In fines, and a747
days served In jail by convicted VIC.
lators.
Tho annual production OF fur In
Minnesota approximates In value
$l,3l0.sT500. There are taken annual
iy about 100000 mpskrats, $4,000
skunk 10000 wolves. and various num-
beers Of at least twelve other varieties
OF far.hearing animals. Fur farming
has been engaged In to some extent.
Dear 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, III necessary. the
enactment OF n 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
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
Cd for this purpose.
The game bird situation Ia not sc
satisfactory. as the depletion oil
grouse has become alarming. The
scarcity OF the partridge or rufflet
grouse Ia noted everywhere. and
prairie chicken are few except In :
certain limited area. There are no
enough prairie chickens and othel
grouse In Minnesota to warran
shooting them unless conditions cal
Be improved. The remedy propose,
II refugees and closed seasons and pro
lection from natural enemies.
The situation ~ to migrator.
water fowl In more encouraging ow
ing To the beneficial effect or the Mi
gratory Bird Law which protects tn
migrating birds In the spring o
breeding season.
Great Areas In Sanctuarles.
Game refugees offer an encouras
ing method OF restoring wild lifs
and Minnesota has now 1.910.s5
acres OF land set apart for wild hf
Danctnaries.
Better provision is needed for p,
trolling and protection OF game San
tuaries which are already establishe
md which are demanded In varior