Conservation Commission 201 



COMBINATION HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING__ 



LICENSE 



In justice to the sportsmen who are paying into the State 

 treasury over $200,000 annually for hunting licenses, I feel that 

 the law should be so amended that it would provide for a combina- 

 tion hunting, fishing and trapping license; exempting minors 

 under sixteen years of age, and women; providing further that 

 the fishing license would only be necessary to take fishes of a 

 species protected by law. There is no doubt that there is a senti- 

 ment throughout the State for a combination hunting, fishing 

 and trapping license, particularly on the part of the fishermen 

 who are in sympathy with the policy of this Commission in re- 

 stocking the streams of our State with our more valuable species 

 of game fishes; realizing as they do that if this work is to be 

 carried on, and upwards of $100,000 is spent every year to main- 

 tain fish hatcheries in the State, it is only just and fair that they 

 as well as the hunters pay their share of the burden. 



SPEARS AND SETLINES 



This method of fishing is very popular among the fishermen 

 who wish to take what is classed as the cull fish, including suckers, 

 bullheads, carp, eels, etc. At the present time it can only be done 

 on an order issued by this Commission. As a matter of control, 

 a small license fee should be required, with a license, and a tag 

 similar to the tag issued with netting licenses could be furnished, 

 to be placed on the setline, or on the handle of the spear ; and the 

 license should further provide the species of fish that could be 

 taken with a spear or setline. This not only furnishes a cheap 

 class of food to people in moderate circumstances, but it is the 

 opinion of fish culturists that removing the deleterious fish im- 

 proves and aids the propagation of the more valuable species 

 of game fish. But without proper control, it would be dangerous 

 to allow the taking of deleterious fish with setlines or spears, as 

 an irresponsible person would not be a respecter of species. 



