The Sidney herald., 1955-03-17

from the FISH ana lTame DepI.
were shown by County Agent
Dean Davidson. Dan c. Price, club
secretary, acted as M. c.
Annual Report Of RiehIand
County Sportsmen's Club
BY G. w. Buster" DoGsOn, Pres.
Membership - Our club had a
low membership when your pres
ent officers were elected. We have
tried to put on a good drive for
this meeting and have about 400
members. This can be increased to
at least 900.
Finance - On March l our bank
our Bird Feeding Account. Our
cash should total about $1,000 now,
less banquet expenses. The books
have been audited and found cor
rect.
Other Assets - Our trap in
ventory includes $50 worth of
shells and two electric traps val
ued at $400. We also own about
five to ten acres of land at the
Sidney bridge. We also have $500
invested in the 80-acre Crane area
land which is a permanent ease
ment arrangement.
Maybe Eradication - 504 mag
pie legs we're turned in by boys
and girls for which we pay Toe,
one half is refunded by the State
Fish & Game Dept. Poison was
purchased which was distributed
to farmers by Game Warden Cart
side.
Farmer Hunter Relations - We
have held two meetings with the
County Agricultural Planning
Board and have discussed plans
for better relationship. Isaac Wal
ton and Montana Federation ideas
have been discussed and progress
is definitely being made.
Trap Shooting - Trap shooting
was started this year after the
gift of the two electric traps from
Ed Minor now in Houston, Texas.
This is good equipment and we
can handle some good sized shoots
by installing our second trap.
Fish and Bird Plants Through
the cooperation of the Montana
Fish & Game Department, their
wardens, and especially Warden
Gartside, we planted 900 pleas
ants in dryland areas, plus $4,000
bass and blue gill in three dams
towards Lambert.
Fair Display - Fine help from
the county and fair board gave us
facilities to handle the excellent
wildlife display at the Fair. Spe-
cial credit is due Jul game war
den, Bill Lowry and Ted Jensen.
We have completed arrangements
for a new wildIife building - the
FLA boys will build the structure,
the Fair Board will furnish most
of the materials, and we viii
have to help on some finish work
and materials.
Sky Watch - This club is re-
Sponsible for the second day of
each month, 6 a.. m. to 1900 mid
night, eight 2-hour shifts. We
haven't done a good job on this
but plan to from now on. Harold
Gartside has accepted the respon-
sibility of handling this, so please
volunteer your services to him.
Crane Project - This is one of
the most important projects ever
undertaken by this club that fin
ally is ready to go. While many
have worked hard, including local
attorneys, Phil Roberts and Geo.
FITZGERALD, we want to pay special
tribute to the Fish & Game Dept,
their personnel and our Commits
sioner Manson Bailey from Glas-
gov. He, the other commissioners
Walt Allen and others recognized
the great need for a fishing spot,
such as Crane that will serve a
big area of Eastern Montana.
There is still much to be done
- mainly lining up our part OF
this project, including equipment,
riprap for the dam, pipe and gate.
The state stands ready to do their
share, and this project must be
built as soon as possible.
You can secure more detail on
costs by asking any of Jour di-
rectors and officers. We will peed
your help, so please become 9
Tart of this project. We had hoped
to start last fall, bat due to wealth
er, high dirt cost bids, and the
necessity to complete some legal
matters, it was decided to wait
until this spring.
In General - The board has
met the first Monday of every
month and this should be con-
tinued. Your club handled many
miscellaneous items, such as hunt
ing season recommendations, leg
islative action, bird feeding, bu'
concentrated on the Crane Lake
project. We want to thank thu
Moose, Chamber of Commerce anC
Harold Gartside for their fine CO
operation.
Looking ahead, we must worl
for more members, complete on.
plans for better relationship be,
tween hunters and farmers, hols
our Junior Fishing Rodeo, OH
Junior Sportsman activities in.
Guiding the state contest for out
standing young sportsman.