White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-10-28

Fifteen coyotes seven years ago:
where there is only one today.
The fourteen dead ones, to which
must be added those destroyed IN
holding down the natural increase,
were slain by government trappers.
The rabbit epidemic has killed none
of them. j.,
The high price of furs has had
nothing to do with causing de-
crease.
Private trappcrs have had no hand
i'm the matter whatever.
These five paragraphs are not
fantastic statements invented TO
catch the eye of persons who other
wise might not read this article, but
the cold-blooded declarations OF "A.
l.. Rasmussen, an assistant inspector
in the biological survey attending the
local stockgrowers' meeting Thurs-
dav. Half a hundred persons were
present and heard Mr. Rasmussen
make the statements, not once pu'
seyera! times, and when pinned down
and cross-examined to test whether
or not the man was in mis- right nina,
he appeared TO be as rational as ne
probably ever is and stuck to the
same five statements.
The impression that Mr.. Rasmus-
sen gave to the stockmen was thar
he never saw coyote in his life and
does not know whether they are fish,
fowl, insect or reptile. The paleness
of his face, not to mention his rotun-
dity of figure, shows that he is an Of
flee man who has not heen out on a
trap line for years, if ever.
The government trapping apoli-
gists got something they were not
looking for that day when, through
Vernon Metcalf, their apologist-in-
chief, they brought up the subject
and invited 4 general discussion, in
Guiding persons not in the stock busi-
ness or members of tho livestock
association.
Mr.. Metcalf opened the discussion
and did most of the talking, inter-
rupting every speaker, though him
self presiding, and insisted upon in
jecting his views into the remarks
of every opponent of his ideas, trying
ing frantically all the while to save
what he might out of what he could
not help seeing was a losing fight
a veritable rout
After he had spoken some minutes
he asked for a discussion, whereup
on Thos. r. King, county farm agent,
called for L. C. Rranson. saving the
i Of cly y,t1J
duggery in government reports OF
the number of animals destroyed and
he wanted suhstantiation. Mr.. Met
calf said Mr.. Branson had been call
ed for and insisted that he speak,
though the latter protested and OBJ
jected, not considering it his meet
ing.
At last Mr.. Branson replied that
he would decline to accept the view
of Mr.. Metcalf that because a life
jobber claimed to have burned 50
many scalps that he was infallible
or his word better than anybody's
else. He said he had made no
charges but through the White Pine
News, upon which he was employed
Hdu dSheu thS' So'ei iiihohI u t"pp'if
department for proof that 1t had
done or was doing what it claimed,
and all that had been heard in reply
was the unsupported assertion of Mr..
Metcalf through the Nevada Stock
grower that some inspector or other
was present when the scalpS were
burned, but did not convince the
speaker or anyone.
But that is not so much what
want to talk about" said Mr.. Bran
son, "You say there is government
trapping inspector present and I want
to ask him just two questions"
II want to ask you," continued Mr.
Branson, as Mr.. Rasmussen arose,
chow long you estimate it will take