The Bismarck tribune., 1931-11-30
Burnie Mautek Says Alkaline
Water Will Serve to Kill
Feathered Game

the Long Lake area IN Burlelgh and
Kidder counties as federal bird
refuge under the migratory bird con-
Servation act, will be entered by Bur-
ME Maurek, state game and fish COM
missioner, at q conference with Sec
retary of Agriculture Hyde and other
officials in washington next Thurs
day. The commissioner is opposed
to the acquisition on the ground that
the site is unsuitable for q refuge and
will offer three other alternatives.
Agents of the migratory bird con-
servation commission, which admin
listers the congressional act providing
for creation of numerous bird
refugees throughout the country, Sc
lected the Long Lake site.
The site selected contemplates the
acquisition of 3,788 acres of land in
Burleigh and Kidder counties and to
convert the lake and land area into
refuge.
Ex-Officio Member
Under the migratory bird conserva-
ton act. the state game and fish
commissioner is an ex-officio men,
Der Of the conservation commission
for the purpose OF considering and
voting on all questions relating to
acquisition of land Ia his state.
Maurek will present at the meet
ing protests of sportsmen to the pro-
posed refuge. As an alternative he
will offer as sites for the proposed
refuge q choice Of the Lostwood lake
chain north Of Stanley, the Jim Lake
and Arrowood Lake area in Stutsman
county, and the Moss river marsh
west OF Bottineau.
The Long Lake proposal, the COM
missioner said, Is unfavorable BE-
cause of the highly alkaline waters.
Thousands Of ducks, he said. have
died from alkaline poisoning. and by
establishing a refuge there. 1t Will
create a hazard to bird life rather
than q benefit.
Appropriations Are Made
BY the federal act, an appropriation
of $4,000 for the bird year. and
81 ,O00, 900 for eight years thereafter
was made by congress. The proposed
refuge is the first benefit accorded
North Dakota by the act. At pres
ent there IS one federal refuge In
the state, created many years ago at
Chase Lake, north of Crystal Springs.
This refuge has been taken over by
pelicans.
The game chief said he would rec
ommend most strongly the Moss river
marsh. Reclamation Of the marsh
would be necessary, and the cost en-
tailed would be larger than in estab-
lishment of refugees at the other
points. The area Is A miles long,
and one mile wide, and in the opin-
ion of Maurek would provide an ideal
refuge if the necessary reclamation
work was done.
The commissioner will attend a
meeting of the American game con-
ference at New York Tuesday ana
Wednesday, and will then go to
Washington. He is a member Of the
reclamation committee of five Of the
game conference which is charged
with the formulation Of a program
to raise funds for the purchase OF
breeding areas that have been
drained; -
Two Plans Suggested
Two plans have been suggested fer
raising revenue for this work. One
plan Is q federal hunting license for
migratory birds, and the other q tax
on shotgun shells. Maurek said he
would favor tax on shotgun shells
from which it Is estimated revenue
of from 100000 to 100000 can
be raised annually.
Opposition to the federal hunting
license will be made by the commits
s.oner on the ground that it may In
terfere with state revenue from this
source, and because Of the difficulty
in enforcing such a federal regula-
tion.