Show II I i Fish and Game Asso Needed I T THE lIE HE forming g of of an active association for the purpose of conserving the fish and game resources of Salt Lake county is a step which means much to the future of fish and game within this region Once upon a time a colored driver was taking his master along a country road As they passed along the old darky was showing his skill with with- the blacksnake whip by nipping off off- butterflies s grasshoppers and bugs from the tile flowers and trees Finally the they came to a hornets' hornets nest within easy reach of of the whip Sam Sain clip chip off that hornets hornets' nest ordered the master Sam hesi hesitated a moment then answered No Nn sah boss 1055 1 Not on your life them is I organized There is is a moral here nere which when wen well fits the fish and game situation In the early days no th thought was necessary to the future of the fish and game in this region Even after there was a great reduction in numbers numbers numbers num num- bers and game became s scarce aree with laws for its protection a decline e continued This was largely due to po poor r l laws ws inadequate enforcement ignorance ignorance igno igno- rance and lack of support The fish and game is a valuable resource and the only feasible way of maintaining it is by bya by a definite plan of management Instead of producing pro pro- about 1200 deer a year as is now the case Utah should furnish annually at least deer Besides this there s should hould be areas where no I i killing is allowed where g game me animals may be- be become become be be- come tame and be studied by nature students j The three states states' of Pennsylvania New York and Maine produce each about deer annually and are able to maintain this supply A conservative estimate of the production from Fish Lake Utah is thirty tons of trout The trout supply in this section can be greatly increased in in- creased creased creased-an an annual production of a million pounds wo would ld not be too be-too too much to expect This last season in Utah over visited the national forests and during their stay they spent approximately This is a ft partial index of the value of u recreation I u uses Instances can be cited where beautiful sections of country with camping conveniences provided have been abandoned by tourists for more remote and less attractive areas where fish fish- ing or hunting could be obtained The supervisor of a forest much visited by tourists noted on his report Every camper a fisherman Utah is overlooking an for attracting and holding hoWing tourists who will spend many thousands of dollars here if she does not maintain her supply of fish and gam game j The forest service recognizes the importance of this resource and has taken active steps to improve the national forests as re recreation I grounds In order to obtain adequate results the state game department must have the backing and aid lid of the sportsmen and d it is just such organizations organizations as is now being formed that will bring this about The activities open to an organization of sportsmen are arc very numerous They can bring to the ike attention of legislators the needs of proper with the state game department laws cooperate of streams and law enforcement and stocking in obtain tom fish from the bureau o of game covers desirable species and perhaps per per- fisheries import game obtain else haps p more i important P t than anything enforcement of the theIn I Ithe the public support to the laws and create higher ideals ideaLe among sportsmen by associations asso- asso aSSOciations A few instances of accomplishments interesting story tell an section in this the receipts f for licenses trebled In Weber county although as asit formed soon oon after the association was several years cd at figure for it had remained remain one considerable increase c in m There was also a after t that a tio lions s during the first year ye but asSOciations aSSOciations aSSO- aSSO off in in violations Several decided falling of for convictions n have offered rewards within their ff territory OU others game gaVle law violators introduced for trout have built rearing ponds game birds written for the local papers recommended game preserves pre pre- on the fish and game serves planted duck foods in ponds and reser- reser etc etc A sportsman as member of a protective association will take action in reporting or preventing preventing pre pre- violations which as an individual indi- indi venting law game warden arden vidual he would not think of f doing A who feels he has the sportsmen behind him can really accomplish results Lr a the The lack of a wide awake spirit among amonS sportsmen o of Utah Idaho and Nevada is is shown by the assignment of fish by the bureau of 1917 1 1918 fisheries During the fiscal years 1916 f and 1919 Colorado Montana and Wyoming have received 92 per cent or approximately OC trout eggs fry and fingerlings which Idaho Utah Utan Nevada and New Mexico received the balance 8 per cent or Utah has received 2 per percent percent percent cent of the total while Colorado has obtained 38 per cent Colorado has had 58 per cent of ot the large fingerlings while Utah has received only 91 nor per cent of these The bl bureau reau of fisheries or st state te game depart departments departments depart depart- ments are in no way vay to be bl blamed med The f facts are that the sportsmen of Colorado have been wi wide e awake The bureau of fisheries cannot furnish fish unless requested They distribute them T 4 to fill fn eu applications submitted through the j senators or representatives in m in congress In In tn Utan Utah the federal hatchery has never been run to capacity and in the fall of 1919 it was necessary for them to turn over rainbow fingerlings to the state game department to remove them from the hatchery There is a necessity for a federation of the associations in Utah to form a strong state organization Such f federations have already been formed in several Western states Every sportsman in Salt Lake county should support this new organization and through a cordial cooperation with his fellow fisherman or hunter other associations the state game department department department depart- depart ment biological survey bureau of fisheries and forest service he will bring about an improvement improve improve- improvement ment of fish and game conditions and be able to hand down to his son the heritage of the rod and gun in the great o out t of doors |