THK SCAJvP ACT OF ISllT. 



At I lie session of ISltT, in consequence of tlie wide 

 spread sentiuient in favoi- of bounties, tiiere was a de 

 tei-inine<l effort made to pass a scalp bill, which would 

 allow premiums for Hawks, Owls, Herons, English 

 Sparrows, Crows and Kini;tishers. These efforts, of 

 course, were strongly opposed in committee and on 

 the floor of (he Legislative halls, and, as a compro- 

 mise, the following act was passed and approved July 

 9, 1897: 



For tlie destrutcion of WiMcats, Foxfs and Minks in this Com- 

 monwealth, and providing for the payment of bounties on the 

 same, officers' fees, and fixing a jx-nalty for violation of the 



Section 1. Be it enacted, etc.. That for the benefit of agri- 

 culture and protection of game within this Commonwealth, 

 there is hereby established the following- provisions for the de- 

 struction of certain noxious animals, to be paid by the respec- 

 tive counties in which the same are slain, namely: For every 

 Wildcat, two dollars; for every Fox, Red or Gray, one dollar; 

 for every Mink, fifty cents. 



Section 2. It shall be the duty of any person, having killed 

 any of the animals mentioned in the first section of this act. 

 who is desirous of availing himself of the premiums therein 

 provided, to produce such slain animal before any magistrate, 

 alderman or justice of the peace of the county in which the 

 same was killed, and make affidavit of the time and place of 

 killing the same: Provided, That the pelt if entire from the tip 

 of the nose of any such animal may be produced in lieu of such 

 animal when so preferred: and upon .the reception of any such 

 animal or pelt, it shall be the duty of the said officer, in pre- 

 sence of said person killing such animal and one elector of the 

 county, to cut off the ears of such animal, and in the presence 

 of such persons burn the same. 



Section 3. Upon the destruction of such ears, the said officers 

 shall give to the person producing such animal or pelt a certl- 



