MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



confined, under ordinary circumstances, to visiting hunters and anglers from out- 

 side the state, making application for licenses intended only for residents. In 

 1925 there were .'>9 arrests for this offense, while in 1926 there were 29. 



Another demonstration of improved conditions may be noted in the arrests 

 for shipping furs outside the state without a license. During 1925 there were 

 79 arrests, while in 1926 this figure was reduced to 29 offenses. Similar im- 

 provement is shown in the arrests for trapping fur-bearing animals out of sea- 

 .son. In 1925 there were 36 arrests, while in 1926 there were but 15. In 1925 

 the deputy game wardens caused the arrest of 30 for trapping fur-bearing ani- 

 mals without a license, while in 1926 the figure was cut to but eight. One of the 

 problems of the department has been the beaver situation. In 1925 there were 

 23 arrests for trapping beaver without a permit. In 1926 there were 21 arrests. 



Between January 1, 1925, and January 1, 1926, the state department officially 

 tagged 6,301 beaver hides which were legally taken. During the year between 

 January 1, 1926, and January 1, 1927, the state department officials tagged 9,762 

 beaver hides, or a total for the biennium of 16,063. Beaver trapping permits are 

 issued only to bona fide residents of the state who are actual owners or leasors 

 of land which is actually being damaged through work of the beaver. The holder 

 of the permit is allowed to trap or destroy them only on his own premises. 

 When an application is made for a beaver trapping permit, a representative of 

 the state department is delegated to make an official investigation, inspect the 

 premises and report to state headquarters. 



Because of the danger of wiping out the beaver of Montana, public spirited 

 citizens have suggested a plan that they be trapped alive by state trappers and 

 transported to state property for purposes of propagation. 



A new trap designed chiefly to captui'e beavers alive for propagation and re- 

 stocking purposes, invented by Vernon Bailey of the Biological Survey of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, has been patented and dedicated to the 

 people of the United States. 



The circular a'so gives detailed instructions as to the operation of the trap. 



FAITHFUL DOGS AID MONTANA HUNTERS 



>^,«- 







*«t^ 



Fearless h%t7iters, sl:i1led iv wnotl lore and iHtpuhJi of meetinrt emergencies, mal'c nip the 



little band of Montana's salaritd Ininters. Bohert P. McFarland and one of his favorite 



dogs are ulunrn in lliis plndofirapli irith lln liides of roiH'lis lillrd in oiir nimitli. 



