Show dJ y r FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS GATHERED HERE Ways and Means of Improving i ing Wild g Animal CondiT Conditions Conditions Condi Condi- T for Hunter and Hunted Under Discussion Fish l and nd game same commissioners rs of the states of f f Colorado I ano Montana l Nevada evada New l Mexico co and W Wyoming ire ner- ner holding a a meeting called by I DH D 11 H Er Madsen fish and game commissioner commis commis- lio el o of Utah t In rooms of the co mi r r a at atthe t the le capitol The purpose pur pui- pose pos o of the meeting Is to formulate a program program for fOr the preservation and In the propagation of offish fish and game states named and to take steps to eliminate the duck malady which threatens destruction of the game birds bIrd The commissioners from froth th the severa several spates were welcomed to the confer conference nce by Commissioner Madsen who said For For Forlong a long time tim I have felt that the We West t was perhaps not receiving I Ithe the benefits to which we ar are justly entitled by fish and game conferences which ire are arc always held In the East This thought Is responsible for the call that was Issued for fol us to get to to- gether Brether and ad discuss the tho problems of offish offish fish which pertain especially especial especial- lal- lal ly Iy to the West I want to congratulate congratulate late yo you commissioners from th the vailous vallous va- va ilous states who have found it possible possible pos- pos sible to today Jay ay aside your duties In your jour our home state and come come here for this purpose In behalf of the sportsmen of Utah I wish to welcome you ou here and to s say y to you jou that we are at your our service to do our best for jour ou en entertainment entertainment en- en while you are here and to cooperate with you In solving the problems problems' with which we as fish and game c conservationists are ire are confronted I MUCH ACCOMPLISHED The bureau of biological al s survey ha hag undertaken to protect migratory ry birds Under federal regulation and through their efforts a great deal o of OX good has be been n ac accomplished To them I f think rightly belongs considerable credit for forthe forthe forthe the migratory treaty with Great Britain the elimination of spring shooting th the non ale of migratory birds and perhaps the b bag g limit I Iam Iam Iam am not unmindful of the the- good they have a. a accomplished through though th the e organization organization organ organ- backed by various sportsmens sportsmen's association throughout the United S States State These same same organizations are now shooting strongly behind the public ground ground-ga game ie refuge bm bill bill which is Just now under tinder consideration in the Senate of the United States This bill bUl provides a a a. federal license of 1 f for r rebooting migratory birds in any state staten In n the union This fund to be bo used for maintenance of the d department to enforce the migratory bird law and of lands for the pur purchase o swamp purpose purpose pur pur- pose of cf establishing shooting grounds and ne and resting grounds for I wild Wild va owl Personally I have been nt y In favor of this bill largely largely- Ii ause of our local conditions I here h In iii Utah for several se years ears past jast hi in fact tact sh since e 1909 we have had an annual al f 1 loss of migratory ry birds that surpasses all aU attempts to number or describe It It is possible that during this period twenty million birds may have died In n Utah I have thought that this migratory ml mi bird license licens might provide the I funds which are necessary to continue to i ithe I the investigation already begun as to the cause of this malady and to devise some sone means of overcoming it On the theother theother other hand handy I can see where the crea- crea creation creation crea crea- tion of this new department may may mean the tho duplication of much work In n the various states and thereby in increase rease th the operating expenses which finally must must be borne by the sportsmen themselves I invite you jou gentlemen to discuss discus this tills question freely during our confer conference nee nce Another question worthy of your at attention attention attention at- at is the hunting and fishing li license license li- li cense In the various states of the West For Tor example Utah example Utah requires the sameI same fee from nonresidents as from residents residents resi rest I dents for fishing and hunting except In the c case s of hunting deer On the theother theother theother other hand If our sportsmen go Into adjoining states It Is necessary for or them to take out a nonresident license at In price in some somo instances much in excess of the resident t license It would occur to me mo that we might decide on some form of regulation whereby a a. a certain amount of reciprocity might be had between the states BOUNDARY POACHERS It Is common common practice for or violators of the g game me law who operate on a large fargo scale and work along the bo boder border bor bor- der del of one state only to cross the line I into th the adjoining state in order to tobe tobe o obe be Immune from prosecution May Maj we not so cooperate as to make our ow laws effective In all adjoining states No doubt all the states represented here have waters having a a part of I their course In adjoining states ItI It would seem that while we are all to together together together to- to I gether gether- these matters might bo be be taken up with the view of cooperating in a fair manner in restocking state waters wa wa- r Theris There Thero Is is' probably no Industry In which more shady work is done t than tan thanin tanin an anIn in the manner of trapping and marketing marketing marketing mar mar- fur bearing animals and be because because because be- be cause of inadequate laws many un- un prime hides are taken and many valuable valuable val yal- furs are almost ruined because of the fact that taken aken Illegally as they are they art are n not t properly c cared red for and end by the time they reach market they are next t to worthless Legislation differs in the various states regardIng this particular IndusI indus indus- try For Tor instance last last week I had I indirect ire information fo fol l of two trunks n s full of beaver hides hide which were in this city untagged I have n no Ide Idea from what state they came caine nor under what conditi conditions ns th they y were trapp trapped d. d An at attempt attempt attempt at- at tempt was was was' made to sell them here bu buthe but t the he party to to whom they were offered w was as afraid to buy nor would be report the facts to this office I later learned that the owner of the hides had bad secured tags fro from in some adjoining state at a aprice aprice aprice price of 1 each with which these hides were tagged They were then taken from Salt Lake to this state whence came the tags and from fron there shipped to the tanners for foi sale May we not decide on a uniform tag and discuss uniform legislation for the handling g of ol these matters matter's PERMANENT BODY FInallY I would l like to suggest that each commissioner feel free to present any ideas or suggestions that will be helpful to us us' us in giving to the sportsmen of the West that sort of representation which h they pay for and to which they are Justly entitled I should like to see a permanent organization organIzation organIzation organ organ- of Western commissioners to meet at least once a year jear ear and devise devis ways and means for Carrying out this poli i I fj should hC lq like to see p politics eliminated from the enforcement of game gahie laws laws and to see see the sportsmen I Invited In to our conference snare share with us the responsibility of this work and enjoy with us the pleasures and happiness that will result when the I proper restocking of our field our forests forests forests for for- ests and our streams streams' has been accomplished The rhe program for the conference which will continue for foi two days has been arranged as follows the topics for discussion being A A uniform nonresident license be between between between be- be tween the various states for fishing and hunting of smAll game game rhe elimination n of poachers who may operate along state stat lines and only have to cross the borders from one state to another to avoid prosecution The pl planting of Interstate waters waterson on ona a a cooperative basis Uniform legislation regarding all game which may cross the borders of one state to another The elimination of politics in the operation of fish and game departments departments departments' depart depart- ments ments' The question of federal control l of m migratory birds etc The steps to be taken to eliminate Ue the duck malady maladj |