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• MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 7 • 



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tects them and where an abundance of forage exists for many times 

 the number of elk there now. 



I believe we could safely permit the hunting of one goat and 

 one mountain sheep per person on that part of Lewis and Clark 

 and Powell counties, which are drained by the South Fork of the 

 Flathead and the north fork of the Blackfoot river, outside the 

 Game Preserves. 



The protection of fur-bearing animals is a subject which this 

 Department should take up at once. Marten are nearly extinct and 

 should have a five year closed season. Muskrats have increased 

 greatly during a two year closed season and I believe trapping of 

 muskrats should be permitted between February 15th and April 1st 

 with a provision that their houses must not be broken into or de- 

 stroyed. I believe the State should receive a royalty on the skins 

 taken from fur-bearing animals not predatory. 



Continued co-operation with the Livestock Commission and the 

 U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey has resulted in the destruction 

 of thousands of coyotes, wolves, mountain lions and other stock 

 and game destroying animals. The sale of skins taken from these 

 animals has added materially to the Fish and Game Fund and a 

 personnel of trained men is being built up which is rapidly increas- 

 ing in efficiency. 



The very fine co-operation which we have had from Montana's 

 sportsmen in general has made our progress possible. The Forest 

 Service. National Park Service and other governmental agencies 

 have been of great value to this Department's program and have 

 given real help in earring it out. 



The beginning of 1925 finds the Department of Fish and Game 

 better equipped, both in its financial condition and its physical plant, 

 then ever before for the carrying on of the great work of conserving 

 the wild life of Montana for the pleasure and benefit of our present 

 and coming generations. 



Respectfully yours, 



C. A. JAKWAYS, 

 State Game Warden. 

 Secretary State Fish and Game Commission. 



December 22, 1924. 



