Bartlett. — Decrease of Coarse Fisfi 205 



Mr. E. T. Grether, St. Louis, Mo. : In regard to Missouri taking 

 part in setting aside a tract of land, regularly every two years we have 

 a political tight over our game and fish laws, and we have to battle 

 pro and con to keep our laws on the books. At the last session of the 

 legislature, to give additional interest to the matter, we attempted to 

 purchase ll^ square miles of land in a most beautiful place 30 miles 

 from a railroad, and having a number of fine improvements in the form 

 of buildings, one of them with 60 rooms worth over $100,000, and 

 another one used as a garage valued at about $10,000, there being about 

 $160,000 already in improvements on that property. In this 11 ^ acres 

 is a wonderful tract of natural scenic beauty, with caves and subterra- 

 nean passages, lakes, waterfalls, rocks, etc., a vast amphitheatre, with 

 natural caves, bridges, etc., a good trout stream and bass streams. We 

 wanted to have it set aside as a state park, and we thought in addition 

 to doing so conditions were such that we could buy the tract for 

 $160,000. We found we could. We had a surplus in the fund of about 

 $45,000 at the beginning of the year when the legislature was in ses- 

 sion. We thought if we could buy it we would interest the people of 

 the state in it for a summer resort, for bungalows, also for fish and 

 game improvement and interest the sportsmen. We would also put 

 aside a sum of money annually out of our game fund and commit the 

 state to the purchase of that tract, thus perpetrating the hunting license 

 feature of our game and fish laws, which has always been attacked 

 by a retrogressive element in the state legislature. By making the first 

 small payment the state would have been committed to a policy of 

 revenues now in vogue, and also prevent the excess collections, above 

 game warden salaries, etc., from being diverted to other purposes than 

 for which it was collected. By making only a small payment the prop- 

 erty would be secured. 



We came within one vote of purchasing that tract and we expect to 

 try again. We want to use it as a place wdiere we can raise game and 

 fish, not so much to allow people to kill game, but to see the varieties 

 of game in a natural state and for fishing opportunities for a greal 

 number of people. The improvements on the ground in the way of 

 buildings, pumping station, etc., are worth more than the price of the 

 land itself. We argued and sent pictures to show the beautiful scenery, 

 and we had assurance from one of the railroads that they would build 

 in as soon as the state took charge. A wealthy gentleman had pur- 

 chased the land, but he was killed in an automobile accident, and the 

 property is now for sale. The nature of the country is such that 

 silting high on the rocks and cliffs it is almost like a view of Switzer- 

 land. We tried and fought just as hard as we could to accomplish 

 our desires, and we have tried to give them good service in our game 

 and fish department here, but we still have strong opposition. I want 

 to congratulate Professor Dyche on the success of the work which he 

 doe 1 - before the Kansas Legislature, but we have more trouble in our 

 state. Every two years I have been one of several persons that go 



