The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-05-04
FISH & GAME COMMISSIONER
MEETS With ELY PEOPLE
Erling Swenson and Fish Commissioners,
Session With Local People Monday Evening and Heard
Views Regarding Department. -


city had ben invited to meet with and
get acquainted with Erling Swenson.
Minnesota's Commissioner of Game and
Fish. Senator George Lommen was
meeting.
The gathering was called to get local
views on several complaints that had
been sent in regarding the efficiency OF
some of the game wardens in this dis
trict. Also the complaint registered by
the sportsmens organization that too
many wardenS were sent into this terri
tory from down state points who were
not familiar with the country and whose
efficiency was thereby minimized.
Fifty or more were present and the
meeting was called to order at about
9 o'clock by the election of DIR. II. C.
NeWgord as chairman. The chairman
stated that plain and frank dis
cussion of conditions was to follow but
that politics was to be taboo as there
were men present from every party
under the sun. He called on Senator
Lommen to give an outline of the ob-
jectS of the meeting.
MIR. Lommen called for opinions Of
those present in the matters spoken of
and also told of the financial handi-
caps under which the department was
laboring and which caused the dis
miSsal of several wardens early In the
year. He also spoke of the criticisms
made that too many wardens were en-
ployed in and about the Twin Cities
while this section of the state was in
adequately wardened. He stated that
the city men were busy checking hotels.
restaurants and transportation facilities
for contraband game and that the men
were kept on the jump. MIR. Lommen
also stated that there were 140 wardens
employed in the state and that finances
were at very low ebb.
Commissioner Swenson, upon being
introduced, put the meeting at ease
with the request that a frank dis
cussion was wanted and he would well
come constructive criticism and at
tempt to answer any of the criticisms
If in his power SO to do. He made the
claim that while receipts in 1891
amounted to about $500, 900, the receipts
in 1888 had dwindled down to about
$500, 600. He also stated that while
there were % wardens employed in the
Twin Cities in 1881, today there were
only IA men at work in the cities area
which embraced about half the popu-
lation of the state. Commissioner
SwenSon asked for criticisms on local
wardens and stated that it was the
desire of the department to secure
capable men for this section of the
state; men Injured to the woods and
capable of performing the exacting
duties Detailing good game warden.
He stated that while forces in the cities
had been cut in half, the local number
were intact and that we have as many
wardens in Ely today as we had in
1891.
Ray Hoefler, secretary of the Ely
Commercial Club, spoke of the need of
more wardenS; planting of wild rice In
suitable lakes and system of cabins
for the wardens along their line OF
patrol. He told of the work of the
Commercial Club and it's members
planting fish and wild rice Axel Dahl
quist expressed his opinion that wardens
now on the job were highly efficient
and especially spoke of the efficiency
of Chief Warden VIM Hanson.
Mr.. Dahlquist was not alone in this
as every speaker attested to the EN-
cheney of this official during the even
ing. However, the concenSus of opinion
on the part of the majority of those
expressing themselves was to the effect
that Chief Warden Hanson did not
have authority enough and that he be
given the authority to recommend men
to serve under him instead of being
compelled to accept wardens sent in
from all parts of the state regardless of
their adaptability to this section. The
Commissioner was impressed with this
sentiment and said it would be in
vestigated.
Sig Olson spoke of the impotency Of
the game and fish measures in the
interests of conservation inasmuch as a
warden has no power to stop trans
portation of traps, nets, firearms, spears
and other utensils and supplies, re-
CARELESS of the warden's opinion Of
their illegal uses but that it was neces-
sary to have Illegal game before the
warden could act. He also spoke Of the
illegal spearing of fish at this, the
spawning season. He stated that while
one fish was taken, in itself not much,
the spawn destroyed amounts into the
millions. MIR. Olson's remarks were
seconded by others present and Senator
Lommen said he would do all in his
power to have the laws changed in the
interest of conservation.
Editor Schaefer said he had heard
criticisms expressed on the warden