Show with the sanction of the state fish and game department a campaign is being conducted this winter having as its apparent object the extermination of beaver in tho colorado and green rivers state and federal laws are supposed to protect these rare fur beading animals which through the depredations of trappers have rapidly approached the point of extinction throughout the west however the state fish and game department part ment is authorized to grant permits for trapping beaver wherever it can be shown that they are damaging crops or other property the times independent 13 informed that several permits have been issued authorizing the trapping of beaver on the colorado and green river and that hundreds of the animals have teen killed during the past few months with the sanction of the state fish and game commissioner we do mt understand how per iritts can legally be issued for trapping beavers in the tovo rivers there is not a ranch between moab on the colorado and green river on the green and it would be the height ot absurdity to say that the animals auld injure anything 0 any value in the river canyons As we understand the law it is illegal to issue permits for catching beaver unless they are known to be damaging property if the state fish and game commissioner can show wherein the colorado and green river beaver have done any damage he will greatly enlighten a number of moab citizens who are indignant over the wholesale slaughter the little animals sportsmen who have made a study of wild animal life say that the mountain creeks and streams are kept supplied with beaver from th rivers whenever the number of the animals reaches a certain point many beaver migrate from the rivers to the smaller stream ls with conse quent benefit through checking of erosion it logically follows that ir the river beaver are exterminated all possibility of getting them started again in the mountain streams is killed loteal stockmen stoc kmen and sportsmen who realize the great benefit resulting from having a supply of beaver in the creeks and streams have for many years zealously protected the animals and as a result there has been a increase it is discouraging cou raging to say the least when th state fish and game department which is supposed to protect and foster fish and damte life will deliberately libera tely aid in a campaign of ex termination such as is now going or here |