River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-02-01
Rod & Gun Club
Banquet A
Glorious Success

OF the largest a1IalfS OF It's kinu ever
held in River Falls when the Rod
& Gun Club held its annual banquet
there last Thursday evening. The
Methodist Ladies' Aid Society served
an excellent repast to over 270 guests
of the Club.
The chief address of the evening
was delivered by Hon. Carlos Avery
of the Minnesota Fish & Game Com
mission. After paying splendid com
pliments to james Nevin, former Con-
servation Commissioner, and w. E.
Barber, who has just resigned, Mr..
Avery detailed the high lights of
fish and game conservation in his
state and in Wisconsin, dwelling
forcefully upon the subject of CO.
operation in this work between the
two states
In his own home town he was one of
the founders of an organization SINH
lar to the River Falls Club. Begun in
1909 with Is members, that club re-
Gently entertained membership of
over 900. Nineteen years ago there
were no such clubs in Minnesota; to-
day there are over $50. This indi-
Gates the growth and power of this
movement, and, said Mr.. Avery, it is
having like development all over
the country.
Wisconsin, said Mr.. Avery, is one
of the foremost leaders in fish and
game conservation, and the methods
adopted in this state are being copied
elsewhere.
The speaker touched on the matter
of tourists trade, and advised that
this be snlght more intelligently
through cooperation with the conser-
walton forces. He deplored the "game
hog" advertising used in many in
stances. Instead of picturing numeri-
cally large catches of fish and big
bags of game, display, rather the fine
individual specimens, scenic beauty,
and the comforts and other attrac
tons of outing life in the localities
advertised.
He gave instances of game preser-
walton and stated that while settle
ment of territory has permanently
dislodged some of the larger game,
such as the bison, elk, ETC., other spe-
cies which have dwindled, can be re-
placed, either by the same breeds or
by others just as desirable.
Mr.. Avery blamed land exploiters
for much of the needless depletion of
game, citing especially the case of
the water fowl breeding places, where
useless and costly drainage projects
emptied lakes and drove ducks and
geese to seek breeding grounds in 9TH
er localities.
Poisoning streams from factories,
said Mr.. Avery, is a calamity which
the east has suffered generally, and
which the west and middle west must
continually be more alert in guarding
against. Many splendid streams and
fresh water lakes have been complete
ly cleared of fish and vegetable
growth by refuse from factories.
The need of the conservation COM
mission was graphically illustrated by
Mr.. Avery. Lots of states have just
as good conservation laws as Wiscon-
sin and Minnesota, but, with no COM
mission with power or inclination to
enforce them, they are suffering the
fate of those who have paid no at
tention at all.
What may be accomplished by fish
trated in Vermont, Massachuchetts,
Pennsylvania, and other states that
went in for conservation after ruth
less hunting and fishing had almost
completely depleted forest, field, and
stream of all game.
Forest conservation should receive
the cooperation Of this movement
was the opinion of the speaker, Tor
fire-devasted areas are certain to be
ganeless for long period. The MIN
rods and Waltonians can do their
bit in their own conduct and in influ
encing otheis in the matter Of pro-
lection against these fires.
Minnesota and Wisconsin should
get together on the matter of inter
state fishing laws. Minnesota has a
good law now on file, to be in effect
when Wisconsin passes a similar lew
regarding rough fishing in the St.
Croix and Mississippi.
Mr.. Avery urged change in Wis
consin's open season on fur bearing
animals. He says there is a needless
waste in permitting nluskrats, etc.,
to be taken in the Fall, when their
pelts are not at the best, AMI recon-
mends Minnesota's early Spring sea-
son, when the hides are prime f II the
market.
T., copoluSic, Nj, AvaY.r raoo,,,