South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-19

the annual meeting OF the IN
Diana Fish, Game and Forest league
which Will be held IN Indianapolis
con- oct. IS there viii be much of in
terest TOR every fisherman and hum
ter liza the state When the office of
commissioner OF fisheries and game
was abolished by our last legislature
and the department turned into the
conservation commission or natural
resources AS one of its divisions all
laws which governed the protection
of hsh and game under the old sys-
tenn were turned over 10 the division
OF fish and game
The old department never had the
confidence of the people OF the state
passed regulating this departing MT
and as a result the laws which were
were and are get inadequate. Many
changes are being proposed and
may say are badly needed. These
proposed changes are and have been
much discussed before the various
county hsh and game protective ass
sociations as their interesting fea-
lures fitted the different county or
ganizatiOns. The entire laws cover
ing the protection of wild life IN
this state needs correction and
strengthening Great care must be
taken IN making these changes and
TIE information which should re-
ceive the most consideration in
forming these new laws is that
which comes from the county fish
and game protective associations
and from the Indiana Fish, game
and Forest league. The gentlemen
who are associated i'm these orsaui-
cations are especially fitted 90 give
the legislature the proper facts
which should Dee considered when
making changes i'm fish and game
protection laws. These associations
have mo- selfish motives but on the
contrary are for such things as are
"a benefit TO the community al large
The members of these organizations
are in the fields the year round fol-
lowing the chase of fishing or hunt
ing and therefore directly in touch
with the working of the laws. When
at the organization meetings they
invariably have the regulations gov
erning hunting and fishing under
To any changes which might help TO
discussion and give much thought
conserve and increase the wild life
OF our state Therefore I say they
are the ones whose Judgment is the
hest ann not ignoring the fact the
farmer owns the lands and that he
Is supreme for Z know too well that
the hunter and the fisherman always
when CONSIDERS changes in these
laws recognize his station and MS
rights Yet the fact remains clear
that the farmer while he may know
The value Of the wild animals. birds
and fish which migrate 20 and from
his farm does not as a rule interest
himself in preventing their eNunc-
ton.
wish 20 call 20 the attention or
these county fish and game protec-
tive associations to SOME OF the more
needed changes and those which
should receive the closest attention.
Tho protection 90 uSh when they
are spawning is the most important
that any species can receive. Every
wear ir tho months of May and June
thousands of fish are taken rroIn
their nests hv INSCRIPTIONS persons.
The only protection our state laws
give a. fish IS 90 the black bass ana
that - iu certain territory OF
lakes krcvu as breeding waters. To
stake the hundreds or lakes m the
state IS costly and 90 guard the
breeding grounds even if set ont IS
Impossible. The law IS Impractical
and inoperatiNe. 10 should Dee re-
healed and instead 81 law enacted
making e. unlawful 90 take fsh from
either lake or stream or 90 nave
same In possession ans Time between
May 1 and June rs OF any year. Such
= law Will conserve and increase the
number OF lsh In our waters. rms
means conservation.
our laws regulating tho taking or
fsh do not specify Is size limit on
bluegius or ring perch. Bluegllls
ought not 20 De taken under six
inches or perch less than seven
inches I'm length. So person should
be allowed 20 take more than TWEEN
tv-fve bluegiUs perch. croppie or
rock bass in any one day. This also
means conservation
The laws regulating trot lines
should be restricted So as 20 permit
less hooks and regulate the amount
OF line any one person may set out
allowing only one for a camp. This
means conservation.
The open season on rabbits Is
from april 90 January 10 OF the
following year. This open season is