The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1927-08-25

|
tration affected a reduction of ap-
proximately 20 per cent. in 1927, as
compared with 1925 in administration
overhead cost, the administration
overhead cost for 1926 being $751;
366.29, and for 1927 $25,413.80.
The conservationiSts of the State
generally do not consider that the
efficiency of the work has in any wise
suffered as a result of the reduced
cost For instance, notwithstanding
the fact that twenty five regular war
.dens were dropped, from the payroll,
| the remaining waraens secured more
convictions fer the past year than
were secured by the larger number in
the previous year and approximately
as many stray dogs were killed. More
game was raised at the State Game
| Farm and released on sanctuaries,
| and, in addition, large number of
southern bobwhite quail were import
ed from Texas and released in the
State. Some Hungarian cartridges
| were also introduced.
In addition to the elimination of the
| lange number of worthless cur dogs, a
menace to public health through the
spread of rabies, as well as to sheep
and other domestic animals, the war
| dens-by a strict enforcement of the
dog law-caused more dogs to be kill
ed by their owners rather than pay the
tax, as is evidenced by the fact that
the receipts from the dog license fund,
which is only Is per cent. of the
amount collected by the localities, was
| approximately $4,000 less during the
past fiscal year than it was during the
previous fiscahyear.
1t is generally conceded by those
| conversant with the matter that but
for the activity of the game warlens
in eliminating the cur dog, coupled
with the compensation fund for stock
losses realized from the dog tax, the
sheep industry in Virginia would ere
this have been put out of bushes. 1t
has been ascertained that the bulk of
the damage to domestic animals and
game, and the spread of rabies, is
during the summer months. The bere-
fits rendered to the public by enforce
ment of the dog law would be ad-
vanced by a Statewide law prohibiting
dogs from running at large during
the summer months.
The strict enforcement of the pres
ent dog law has resulted in not only
the protection of game, domestic ami
mails, and public health, but has
created large sums from the dog tax
which have been spent by the localities
on public roads and public schools.
The Commission has further rem
dered valuable service to the farmers
by. posting and patrolling privately
owned game sanctuaries, totaling
nearly 100000 acres; in raising and
releasing, in the rural sections, nearly
5000 bobwhite quail, and in protect
ing during the closed season game
birds and animals which are valu-
able, asset on any farm, and which
without such protection would shortly
become eXterminated.
The Commission has under con-
sideration the acquisition of the hunt
ing and fishing rights in the forest
lands owned by the United States Gov
ernment in the State, aggregating
500, 900 acres, to be re-stocked and
opened as public hunting and fishing
grounds, and of acquiring, by lease or
purchase for similar purposes, areas
in ether sections of the State where
there are no Federally owned forest
lands, and likewise of establishing
certain sanctuaries or game refugees
where game birds and animals can be
raised in the native State, to be trap,
ped and distributed to other sections
where most needed The Commission
is also considering the establishment
of two fish hatcheries for the re-stock.
ing of the bass and trout streams anC
ponds in the State.
The survey of the work of the Com
mission for the past fiscal year indi
Gates the Importance of it's activities /
and the efficiency with which the tasl !
is being handled. Great possibilitie'
lie in store for it in restoring Virginia
to it's pristine claim of being a hun
ters' paradise, and it's work entities j
to the hearty support and cooperation
of the farmers and conservationists OF
the Commonwealth
During the course of the day the ad |
visory committees appointed by tn |
Commission had conferences ant
made recommendations. The recon-
mendations of two of the committees
follow.
Recommendations of Advisory Com
mittee on Upland Game
1. We are firmly of the opinion tina
the Commission of Game and Inlant |
Fisheries should be given full regu
latory powers as are now vested in thu |
boards Of supervisors. We think tina
the Commission of Game and Infant
Fisheries is in better position t.
know about bag limits, seasons, etc
in all sections of the State.
q; g General game and fish law |
should be codified and simplifed.
8. We are Of the opinion that tn |
State Game Farm should continue t
raise quail and recommend that in tn |
distribution of these quail to the diff
ferent sanctuaries that particular at
tention should be given to the sane
tuaries ~on which birds will be re
leased, ascertaining if the parties whC
propose to provide these sanctuariel |
are properly interested in game con
servation and whether the place is