The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-09-09
Cash Prizes Offered
to Most Successful
Hunters Of Mcngoose

Detailed explanations and directions
for the conduct of the campaign
against the mongoose to be conducted
by the fish and game committee of the
territory and the boards of supervis-
ors of the various counties of the ter
ritory have been sent to the board of
supervisors by II. l.. Kelley, eXecu-
tive officer of the territorial fish and
game commission. They apply especi-
ally to Maui County where the super
visors appropriated from the hunting
license fund $500 for special cash
prizes. Mr.. Kelley's notice follows:
Mongoose Drive
The county supervisors in coopera-
ton with the Territorial Fish and
Game Commission have decided to
start a campaign with the view of eX-
terminating the mongoose.
The last Legislature, approaching
the enormous damage done annually
to the game birds and domestic fouls.
increased the bounty on mongoose
from ten to fifteen cents per scalp.
This in itself does not appear to be
sufficient to encourage the killing of
this pest, so the supervisors have ap-
%propriated $4,000 of the game fund
for prizes to be given out quarterly
and at The end of each year.
There will be cash prizes of $25.
$50. SIS, so and So, given to the 5
persons receiving the bounty on the
greatest number of mongoose scalps
during each of the quarters ending
September 80, December 81, March 81
and June 80.
To secure the bounty applicants
must deliver to the tax assessor of
the taxation division, within which he
resides, the mongoose heads, upon
which the bounty is claimed. The APP
plicant is required TO swear to a state
ment specifying the amount of the
bounty he claims and that the mon
goose were killed inside of sixty days
and within the said taxation district.
The tax assessor will forward this
affidavit and a certificate to the treas
urer. who will issue warrant to the
applicant for the noun due.
AS these public officials cannot
afford to be bothered by persons
bringing in a scalp or two every few
days, it is suggested that every one
competing for the above prizes should
cure the heads by placing them in 4
strong brine; or split the head, sprin-
kle with salt then dry them. They
can be turned to the assessors every
five or six weeks.
After each quarter, agents of the
Fish and Game Commission will check
up the number of scalps sent in, and
forward to the supervisors the names
of the five turning in the greatest
number of scalps. To them the SUI
pervisors will send checks in the
mount stated above. In the same
way at the end of the wear the five
who sent in the most for the year
will receive checks for $50, $40, $35,
$50 and S25.
II is also planned to give the one
inventing the most successful way of
killing or trapping the mongoose a
cash prize at the end of the year. The
details of this however have not yet
been worked out.
AS to the best way of getting the
mongoose that is a matter each of the
hunters will have to settle for him
self. 1t is fair to shoot, trap or poi
son. but in any of these methods care
must be exercised that other valuable
animals are not injured.
Some have found that a trap from
an old oil can or barrel will do eX-
cellent work. This is done by arrang-
ing an easy swinging trap door in
such a position that a mongoose will
be tempted TO jump down from a con-
v%eniently blackboard or limb to get
the bait. His weight causes the door
to swing open dropping him into the
water where he soon browns, while
the door swings back into position
ready for the next victim. One of
these traps skillfully placed and bait
ed may catch half a dozen or more
during the night. The common steel
trap has also been found to work very
satisfactory, especially where a drop
or two of ainse-seed oil is used with
the bait.
1t is expected that members of the
Boy Scouts of America will collect
most of these prizes, and which are
being offered by the board of super
visors on the other islands roubled
with the mongoose. Patriotism and
service are the foundation principals
of all Boy Scouts organizations and
to rid the community of this animal,
which is a carrier of disease and
whose constant inrOads on all ZONES
tic fouls and their eggs adds to the
costs of both the producer n the
consumer. Besides this the trapping
of these animals is right in line with
the scouts woods training, and also
as practically every boy looks forward
TO the day when he will have a gun
with which to shoot game, the scouts
must appreciate the fact that if there
to be any birds left to shoot the mon
goose will first have to be killed off.
Remember that it is to everybody's
interest to kill the mongoose regard
less of the bounty; that each head is
worth Is cents and that too, if you
are clever enough to turn in the great
est number of heads. Each of the next