The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-03
SIXTEEN MEASURES
TO PROPOSE CHANGES
IN FISH, GAME LAWS

INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. Sixteen
bills proposing more than thirty
changes in the fish and game laws
Of Indiana will be proposed in the
legislature by the safe department of
conservation. Officials urge the
changes are necessary for strength
ening. broadening and harmonizing
existing law, though none of the pro-
posals is regarded as of exceptional
importance.
Mussel digging, it is proposed, will
be brought under stae control by the
diggers being required to obtain a per-
NIT to carry on their business. Dur
ing April, May and June the taking of
mussel and clans would be prohib-
tied by law. Raising of fur-bearing
animals in captivity also would come
under state supervision in that 1t
also would require a permit TO engage
in this occupation. Another proposal
would require owners of ferrets to
have a permit from the safe.
State Ownership.
State ownership of all fish and
game would be established by another
proposed law. This would establish
finally that unlawfully killed game
and fish belongs to the state and may
a part of this law it will be proposed
that the confiscation be authorized
of all devices used for catching or
killing the game out of season.
Beaver and otter, now almost ex-
tinct In the state, would be protected
by a perpetual closed season under
another bill while the law Of 1917,
protecting fur-bearing animals gener-
ally would be broadened to include
mink and muskrats.
New limits would also be establish
ed for a sportsman's day at hunting
and fishing. The bag limit for rabbits
would be fixed at ten animals and for
squirrels at five. The length Of law
fully caught fish would permit the
fisherman to retain bluegills of five
inches or more in length, perch of
six inches and rock bass of five
inches.
Bar Bass Fishing.
A days catch of bluegills, sunfish
and croppies would be reduced from
so to 25, bass from IL to 10, with
that for rock bass being set at %.
Fran May l to June Is the fishing of
bass would be prohibited. Sale of
croppies and channel catfish also
would be prohibited.
" luISI ilSulLS, pdI
at Bass lake, would be placed under
new restraints under another propos-
ed law. The hole in the ice would be
limited to two and one-half feet in
diameter and the fisherman would be
required to do his fishing in the cold
without any shelter house. Further,
the fisherman could use only one line
and not more than two hooks.
Hook Size Cut
Trout fishing, too, would be sub
jected to new regulations, it being pro-
posed that the floating devices be re-
duced from Is to five with the size OF
the permitted hook increased to one
half inch and not more than fifty
hooks to the line.
Almost half century ago foxes Were
so numerous in Indiana as to be pests
and in 1875 the legislature passed
law offering bounty for killing them.
Sence then the legislature passed an
other law prohibiting their killing
but the old bounty law remained on
the statute books. Now the depart
ment of conservation wants the 1875
law repealed.
New closed seasons on some game
and fur-bearing animals also would BE-
set up by other proposed laws. Rab-
bits would be protected from October
to January 10, and mink, muskrat,
raccoon, skunk and opposum between
November 10 and February 2.