Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-06-11

I The Montana fish and game commits
sion and the bureau Of biological sun
vey are working on q plan to construct
SO migratory game bird refugees IN
Montana at a cost of more than 81
00O,O 900 to the federal government.
Ira N. Gabrielson, chief Of the bureau
Of biological survey, conferred with
members Of the state fish and game
commission on the plan.
! B. L. Price OF Laurel, chairman Of
| the Montana commission, said Gabriel
son is to submit the plan in full to the
fish and game department. The game
department. then viii refer 1t to the
state attorney general for an opinion
as to its legality.
The federally controlled refugees
would be established by building dams
for lakes which would range In size
from 100 to 500 acres, Gabrielson ex-
planned, and in depth from five to IS
feet.
The state would incur no expense,
the chairman said.
Future seasons of migratory birds win
be determined at a meeting in the east
at which representatives of game COM
missions from throughout the nation
will fix season dates.
No Action on Seasons
No action was taken in the matter
of fixing duck and other migratory
bird seasons for Montana.
Led by Barney King of Butte, secre-
tary of the south-central association,
which includes Silver Bow, Madison,
BeaVerhead, Deer Lodge, Powell and
Granite counties, the sportsmen pro-
tested the right Of the biological survey
to establish a wild fowl refuge at Red
Rock lake in Beaverhead county, under
existing state laws land in the absence
of an enabling act
Now pending in the federal district
court, and expected to be heard at the
seeking to prohibit the government
from establishing the refuge.
Backed by Federation
George Hopkins of Paradise, presi- |
dent Of the Montana Wildlife feder- !
alton, informed the meeting-Which |
was attended by about so persons |
that the body had adopted resolution 4
the state fish and game I
commission to intervene in the court |
action ION behalf of the sportsmen of |
the state in order to protect the SOW !
ereign rights of the state from being
infringed upon"
Chairman Price said the state at
torney generals office now had the
matter in hand and would intervene
in the suit.
King, Paul Cannon and scotty
FRAME, all OF 6uLCe, spoke on peQau
Of the south-central Montana sports
men, who contend the establishment
Of a refuge at Red Rock lake by the
federal government will deprive Mon
Jana hunters of one of the best duck
hunting spots in the state.
Cannon pointed out the sportsmen
have no quarrel with any recognized
agency which is trying to develop and
oSter wildIife but we do claim the state
las supreme Jurisdiction over the
vildlife."
Gabrielson outlined in detail the
inns and policies of the federal unit
THE biological survey" he said, has
definite program, made for the bene-
it of those sportSmen of our country
Who live out of doors. The program
S sound from biological standpoint
nd from wildlife standpoint, and it
S the only one that will give us a
nance to bring wildlife conditions
ack to somewhere near where they
7ere 20 or Is years ago.
Defends Bureaus Program
Communities can develop regula-
ions for nonmigratory wildlife, but no
roup, no state and no group of states
an do this and accomplish anything |
nth migratory wildlife. There is no
)cal action that could meet the needs
migratory birds. The problem is ma
onal, even international, in its scope"