146 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



The San Joaquin Valley Elks Association interested themselves in 

 the refuf2:e project and through the efforts of Frank H. Pratt, District 

 Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, a bill was introduced into the Legis- 

 lature by Assemblyman Jewett, llanford, Kings County, on January 

 22, 1931. This measure, known as Assembly Bill No. 973, asked for an 

 appropriation of $50,000 for the creation of a game refuge for tule 

 elk in Kern County. The Elk Conserv^ation Committee of the Cali- 

 fornia Elks Association assisted greatly in getting this bill through 

 the Legislature and in seeing that the elk refuge was completed. The 

 bill was referred to the Fish and Game Committee and when first con- 

 sidered by this committee, it was rejected. 



Following this, a long battle, headed by tlie committee from the 

 Elks Lodge was waged in an attempt to get this measure out of com- 

 mittee. The bill was amended on April 24, 1931, reducing the amount 

 of the appropriation from $50,000 to $35,000. Governor Rolph was 

 contacted and he agreed to sign the bill if it was passed by the Legis- 

 lature. 



A group from the Elks lodges of the San Joaquin Valley and other 

 interested organizations appeared before the Fish and Game Com- 

 mittee asking for consideration of this bill. They received a very cool 

 reception by this committee and were given but little opportunity to 

 express themselves on its merits. IMembers of the committee referred 

 to the animals as "mangy critters" and very quickly turned the bill 

 down and dismissed the delegation that went to Sacramento. 



We were quite discouraged after this reception and felt that it 

 would be necessary to seek other means of handling the ])r()blem. 

 Senator Wagy, who had been working vdth us constantly on this prob- 

 lem, introduced a bill into the Senate on April 23, 1931, known as 

 Senate Bill No. 951, entitled "An act to provide for reimbursement 

 of persons suffering loss by reasons of the act of tule elk during the 

 closed season." Senator Wagy agreed to withdraw this bill pi'ovided 

 the committee would i)ass Assendily Bill No. 973. which called for the 

 appro])riation to take care of the problem. After the above-mentioned 

 group once more went to Sacramento where they had another session 

 with the Assembly Committee on Fish and Game, the bill was finally 

 passed out of committee with the recommendation "do pass." It 

 experienced no difficulty then in ])assing both the As.sembly and Senate 

 and in due time it was signed by the Governor. 



Considerable discussion followed the signing of the bill as to 

 which division of the State government should purchase the land. It 

 was finally determined that the State Park Commission should do so 

 and on March 15, 1932, this Division purchased a tract of ai)i)roximately 

 1000 acres near the original site east of Tupman, Kern County. The 

 Division of Fish and Game, which is charged with the administration 

 of the refuge, prepared plans for enclosing the area with a seven-foot 

 fence of steel construction. Contract for its erection was let by the 

 Department of Public Works on May 1, 1932, and was completed 

 August 29, 1932. All construction costs were borne by the Division of 

 Fish and Game out of the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. 



The elk which were held in the temporary refuge were then trans- 

 ferred to the new enclosure. Members of the Division of Fish and 

 Game then commenced gathering up those animals remaining on the 



