Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-01-04
STATE FOREST, GAME
] WARDEN ISSUES REPORT

The fourth biennial report OF
j. A. Viquesney, State forest,
game fish warden, just publish
ed and furnished the press, con-
tains so pages of interesting in
formation.
The report deals first with
tabulated data showing number
of prosecutions made during the
biennial period from June 80,
1914 to June 80, 1916 to be 489 ;
fines assessed $6,330.00; COM
mitted to Jail 81; number of
forest fires occurring during the
two years 634; total acreage
burned $3.50, 1854; estimated dam
age to forest products 1929, 1885,
55; cost Of counties for fighting
these fires $14,745.17; total fish
planted in streams during bien-
NAL period 1,806,830; number of
free licenses issued to hunters
1885; State Wide licenses 3d.
1871; nonresident So; non-resi-
dent fishing licenses 1854; total
revenue collected to June 80,
1916 for licenses old $11,741.
The second part of the report
contains discussions of the vari-
Gus subjects embraced in the
report and points out that West
Virginia presents ideal attrac-
tions not only from the stand
point of hunting and fishing, but
presents beautiful forests and
scenic drive unexcelled by any
State in the Union. With good
roads crossing the State it is
suggested that hundreds of tour
lists will be attracted and take
advantage of the great oppor-
furnished for recrea-
ton and health.
A resident hunters license of
$1.00 is recommended in order
to supply funds for better pro-
lection to game fish and forests
and especially to stock up game
sanctuaries in each county and
thus insure an adequate propo-
cation and distribution Of game
throughout the whole State. 1t
is stated that thousands of acres
of land not suitable for any 9th
erpurpose should be stocked
with deer and that an acre or
two of swamp or waste land on
each farm can Be turned into
ponds for raising fish and be
made more profitable than any
part Of the farm.
The protection of forests
from fire by systematic coop
Grafton of State, Federal Gov
eminent and private ownership
has saved millions Of dollars
each year. Before any organic
ed effort was made to discover
and control forest fires, four or
five millions of dollars were lost
annually in forest products,
which has been reduced to an
annual loss of less than two
hundred thousand dollars. 1t has
been found that by a system of
lookout stations, patrol routes
supplied with telephone commit
nication that fires can be discov-
cred and extinguished in their
early stages before they have
done great damage.
By protecting the forest land
from fire, the haunts of the
game and birds are also pro-
tected and thousands of eggs
which were formerly destroyed
are now Matched which accounts
for the rapid increase of the
ruffed grouse and many other
birds. s
The concluding part of the re-
port is by Earle A. Brooks, Con-
sulting Ornithologist, and gives
a detailed account of the game
birds of the State, illustrated by
many beautiful pictures taken
from real bird life in West Vir-
ginia and fully describes the
habits and value of our many
beautiful and attractive game
birds.
Parties interested may obtain
a copy of the report by address
ing J. A. Viquesney, Forest,
Game and Fish Warden, Bel
ington, West Virginia.
RAISE RATES