212 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



vivors were treated like so many sick children. Let that 

 sorrowful object lesson now be taken to heart by all true 

 Americans, and applied "for the good of the order/ ' 



HUNTING LICENSE MONEY CANNOT ALWAYS PAY 

 THE COST OF GAME PROTECTION. 



At this moment many states are supporting their game 

 commissions and game wardens solely on the funds derived 

 from the issue of hunting licenses on a cash basis. Already 

 there are several state game departments which openly say 

 that without hunting-license money with which to pay war- 

 dens, their whole force would be wiped off the slate and out 

 of existence. 



For example, Maryland has just gone so far as to create 

 a state game commission ; but on account of the protection 

 of the oyster industry there is not one dollar for the main- 

 tenance of state game wardens, and the prosecution of law- 

 breakers; and so the commissioner is utterly powerless to 

 protect the game of Maryland, and prosecute offenders 

 against the laws. 



In Delaware, the State Game Commission has quite gone 

 out of business, from lack of funds. No doubt there exists 

 on paper a perfectly good set of reasons for the disgraceful 

 condition; but there can be no adequate excuse! When a 

 state is too mean to protect the wild life within its borders, 

 that state should go out of business, and ask to be merged 

 into the nearest commonwealth that is performing the func- 

 tions of a real state. 



There is at least one western state (Idaho), whose State 

 Game Warden entertains the view, and the fear, that a 

 5-year stoppage of sage grouse shooting would wipe out 

 their annual maintenance fund ; and so, with the grouse of 

 Idaho on the road to extinction, the situation becomes both 

 perplexing and serious. 



The dependence of game protection on the killing of game, 

 and alleged game, presents a problem of constantly increas- 



