The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-04-09
WINNIPEG PAPER
FAvORS P0ACH|NC.
EDITORIAL IN WINNIPEG PAPER
THINKS MINNESOTA BEAVER
POLICY N. C.

Lawlessness on the part of trap
pers in the Superior Forest region
of Northeastern Minnesota. which
in the past has robbed the state of
a fortune in natural resources and
which is curtailed now only by the
constant vigilance of force of
game wardens, is tacitly condoned
by journal devoted to the fur
trade and published in Winnipeg.
The editorial, based on aversion
to the warden-trapper system en-
ployed in the Superior refuge and
inspired by the announcement of the
states plan to trap a limited num-
Der of beaver where deemed advis-
able in the interest of conservation,
subsequently was forwarded to
Grand Marais with a request that
it be re-published there. Grand
Marais is headquarters for the game
wardens who are combating outlaw
beaver traffic in that section Of the
Superior Forest and Refuge.
1.-THE warden-trapper system of
Minnesota is not good system"
the editorial set forth. you can
not expect to pay nominal wage
to men who have been accustomed,
as private trappers, to a fairly good
income and get 100 per cent hon.
esty. Especially with the oppor-
tunitieis that exist IN this region.
Nor can you blame the men as much
as the state ***And why should
free white trapper be made into a
government employer"
Characterizing the states Plan
49,. H..
scheme the editorial continues:
1.-The public has been consistently
informed that beaver were getting
scarcer in the forest reserve owing
to the activities of poachers. Now
the state says there are plenty, but
it wants them for itself. Could
any one be blamed for doing lit
tie intelligent poaching under these
circumstances"
Surmising correctly that the state
wants them for itself" and that
revenue will be derived from the
sale of the pelts, the departments
critic apparently fails to consider
why the state wants them for it
SELF" or in whose interest the rev.
enue lis to be expended.
Section 2 of the game laws pro-
vides ''the ownership of wild ami
mals," so far as they are capable
of ownership, is hereby declared to
be in the state, not as a proprietor,
but in its sovereign capacity as the
representative and for the benefit
of all it's people in common"
The plan considered by repre-
sentatives of the Game and Fish de-
partment, the u. s. Forest Service,
the Chamber of Commerce and the
IZaak Walton League at the Ely
conference contemplated trapping
only surplus of beaver and devot-
ing the revenue to Game and Fish
department protective activities in
that region. In other words, to the
protection of the interests of all the
people in common, rather than sacri-
ficing the resource to the private
gain of privileged few.
Beaver trapping is prohibited at
all times, except that the commits
sioaer is authorized to permit the
taking of limited number when
and where surplus warrants. In
the past, special permits We're issued
individuals for trapping predatory
animals, but not beaver. in the
Superior Refuge. Experience prov
ed, however, that these trappers,
for the most part. were more con-
cerned in beaver than in predatory
animal control, SO the system was
condemned by Commissioner Gould
and abolished by the last Legisla-
ture.
Trapping of ony sort on the pre-
serve now is restricted to wardens
employed by the state for that pur-
pose. The pelts so taken become
the property of the state, to be sold
by the Game and Fish department