The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-12-01
123 Fed At
Annual MEETING
Continued from page u

are directly responsible for the at
traction of many tourists and con-
stitutes an inheritance investment
for coming generations. The es-
Establishment of refugees will, in all
probability, result in the establish
ment of parks on these sites in the
future which will beauty the state
to large extent. AS far as COM
mercial value is concerned. manu-
facturers and dealers in sports
mems materials, supplies and equip
ment are greatly benefited by The
maintenance of the wiIdlife popu-
lation.
Mr.. Girard listed number of the
species now nesting at the Ninepipe
and Pablo refugees. They are. Coot
ba1dpate, Hungarian partridge, Chi
nese pheasant. mallard, pintails,
rudy dick, blue winged teal, Gin
namon teal and others.
The second major speaker ON the
program was Mr.. Percy E. Melis,
assistant regional forester in charge
of Wlldlife management. from Mis-
souia. Mr. Melis extended greet
ings from forestry men formerly
located in Libby and then contin-
ued with his talk, the gist of which
was the relationship between the
forest service and other agencies,
particularly the state game depart
ment.
Mr.. Melis said, Each govern
ment agency is dependent entirely
on public support in carrying out
its functions and the people of a
community, state or nation, are en-
titled to expect and to demand eff
ficient and effective work" He
cited the work of the aG-Menn and
the public health service and COM
pared their work to that of con-
servation agencies who have re-.
sponsibility for leadership Of public
opinion in conservation matters as
well as for the regulation of the
use of natural resources in con-
formity to legislative enactments.
He said that the government is
the guardian of the future as well
as the protector of the present in
wildlife management Mr.. Melis
explained that conservation does
not mean misery boarding or
locking up of resources, but rather
their wise uSe-liSe without waste
or destruction. Game in all its
forms is a part of the vast heritage
of natural resources with which this
country is blessed. Individual cit
liens have organized themselves IN
to clubs and associations without
number to promote the wise use and
to secure suitable protection for
fish and game" he said
Mr.. Melis explained the necessity
Of the state fish and game depart
ment and the usefulness of the state
university and college in develop
ing sound public thought on the
subject of Wildlife. He pointed out
the fact that the latter two institu-
tons are responsible for a great
deal of the work i'm furthering sci
entific knowledge appertaining to
the natural resources of Montana
The functions of the following in
situations were discussed by Mr..
Mells. the bureau of biological sur
vey and the bureau of fisheries.
In discussing the relationship be-
tween the forest service and matters
pertaining to the fish and game Mr.
Melis said, "The game is a product
of the forest land and is a major
resource of the national forest The
forest service is a land-managing
agency and as land manager is
vitality interested IN all Of the re-
sources and in all of the forms Of
life, flora and fauna, that are pres
ent on national forest lands. The
soil and water, the timber and for
age, the fur and game, the fish and
fowl, and even the scenery and
solitude are resources of the for
ests. Good forest Administrations
quires consideration of each and all