The Alaska daily empire., 1919-12-29

it is perfectly legitimate, for had they not paid $50 each for hunting H censc, which goes into the general receipts of the Treasury and not into a fund for the protection of game?
 can quote many instances similar to the above.
 Free permits issued to hunters for scientific purposes should either be abolished or more carefully inquired into before being issued. I find that this privilege is abused to certain extent. I can not so state authorita- lively, but I believe that a consider able percentage of the specimens taken under free permits find their way into private ownership. A holder of free permit seems, as a rule, to consider that he is exempt from all restrictions. If a scientific organiza- ton really wishes specimens for it's own use, it can get much better TO- suits by having them taken locally by men who know tho country than by equipping an expensive party. Dur. ing the fiscal year there were IS free permits issued by tho Department of Agriculture and 8 hunters licenses issued by the Governors office. This hunting season there will be a great many more but in approximately the same proportion.
 On the coast of Sutheastern AL ,-Iro h;o1 carun1 hy steamers bringing fresh meat to the market. the deer should receive bet ter protection. l advocate license system for all hunters in this district Except away from the ports of call game is not a necessity to the inhab itants. Three successive hard winters wolves, and the depredati0ns of the summer fishing fleet have woefully depleted the deer. Southeastern AL aska alone needs more wardens than are provided for the whole Territory
 That excellent instrument, the mi gratory-bird treaty. should be modlfl cd to cover Alaska and the Yukon Territory. In recommending this ] have the hearty approval of the com missioner of our neighboring Can adian territory. By the terms of the treaty no shooting is allowed before September l. In all justice, shooting in the North should commence Aug ust 15. By this time the birds are well grown and have commenced their southward flight. In the interior of Alaska and the Yukon Territory they have all left by October l. On the coast all migratory birds have left by November 1. I trust this treaty may be amended.
 It is inconsistent. to my mind, that two different departments of the Gov. ernment should have jurisdiction over the wild birds of Alaska. It only leads to confusion, interlocking au- thority. and inefficiency. As matters now stand. the Department of Agri- culture has regulatory power over the game animals and birds including certain species of bear. Appropria- tions for law enforcement are es- timated by the Department of the 1n- terior and the Governor appoints the gcme wardens. The. Department of Commerce has power over the fur bearing animals and other species of bear Fur wardens are appointed by the department, with no centralized authority in Alaska. It is also mixed up that were it not a serious matter, | it would be laughable.
 There is absolutely no doubt in my mind but the Territorial Legislature | is much peter equipped to protect the game and fur-bearing animals than any scientific bureau or sports mems club located on the Atlantic seaboard. I had introduced into the | legislature a measure carrying an ap propriation for a game-licensing sys' tenn. but it failed of passage. the att itude of the legislators being that the game and fur situation is so chaotic that auy local attempt at 'betterment is predestined to failure. The Legis' lature Is willing to enact better laws
 to be more strictly enforced. and only asks that all proceeds. now be
 ing covered into miscellaneous re
 ceipts of the Treasury. become part of the Territorial revenues.
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