Evening star., 1924-03-16

feSsional hunters when assigned to
different cases of wild-beast lawless-
ness. Like the mounted police of the
northwest, Uncle Sans armed repre-
sentatives never return to headquar-
ters until they can bring in the bacon
or, rather, the bear meat. In each
state where the hunters are main
tanned there is a leader who directs
the local "sure shots" Altogether
there are thirty of these inspectors
now on the job.
Stockmen and ranchers report the
latest scenes of animal bandtry. The
leaders assign professional marks
men to the various cases. Like the
guardians Of our national forests,
who during the fire season wait at
central camps, just as city firemen
remain at their central stations, ready
at any minute to respond to call
of "fre," the federal rifiemen are
ready at any time of night or day to
take up the chase Of animal
criminals.
You read time and again about the
epochal trips which wealthy sports
men make to India, Africa, South
America and wherenot in pursuit of
big game. These amateur hunters
travel hundreds and hundreds of miles
and spend thousands of dollars in or
der to shoot wild elephants, tigers.
lions, bears and other dangerous prey.
Maybe you are wondering why Uncle
Sam does not organize these hunters
and secure their services free of
charge in clearing the mountain and
plains states of predatories. 90.
There are reasons-and good ones
why such a scheme would be imprac-
tical. 1t takes an expert, experienced
hunter to match wits and win against
our western wild beasts. The hun
ters have to cook their own food,
ride daily on horseback over rough
trails, sleep for weeks at time with
the stars as their bedroom ceiling,
and they have to stick on the job in
bad weather and good, in rain, or
snow, or sunshine. Many of the
amateur nimrods would balk at this.
X x
THERE are experienced hunters
who can be hired at small sal
! aries, which range from SIS to $3.50 a
month, to do this work. These men
! have to furnish from two to four
horses, a camp wagon and food and
equipment for their outfit. Some of
the states and western stockmen's
organizations hire additional hunters,
who assist the federal marksmen in
their great work.
In addition to their major assign
ments Of killing the killers, the hun
ters also patrol the passes that
wolves and other marauding beasts
would take in entering the United
States from Mexico.
A notorious animal bandit is run
to earth in the same manner that
robbers and desperadoes are hunted
by sheriffs in the adjoining counties.
A pretty good indication of the
stupendous bag of game which the
federal hunters annually accumulate
is had from the fact that they turn
more than 100000 annually into the
United States Treasury here in Wash
! fngton from the sale Of skins Of the
/ animals they kill. Last year the ma
| tional game bags were crammed to
| capacity with ia stock-killing bears
l73 mountain lions, 687 timber wolves
2.827 bobcats and Canadian lynxes
hunters shot. In addition. more than
$4,000 coyotes were killed by poison
ing. This brings the total number OF
scalps up to more than $4,000.
1t is notable that more than 1929
| 600 poisoned bats were carefully
| placed by the government hunters
last year. Most of this material Il
distributed during the winter months
when food is scarce and the wild
beasts are more liable tQ,turn to tht