THE GAME BREEDER 113 



the increase of his game equally bene- the laws in respect to the manner in 



ficial to the people at large. which game and fish can be taken are 



Of the advantages of the system of so constructed as to prevent the un- 



^ame and fish preserves more can be limited slaughter of both game and fish 



said. Probably the greatest is one of that was possible before the present 



those already mentioned, that this sys- laws came into effect. If it were not 



tem more perhaps than anything else for our game preserves and licensed 



has tended to wipe out the market lakes, no one in the State could in any 



hunter of Colorado ; another advantage legal way obtain any kind of game 



is the taking of game in preserves by or fish for food purposes in his own 



owners thereof results in leaving very home during the closed season unless 



much of the game on the public range he were fortunate enough to be able 



for others, and the regulation of the to afford a hunting or fishing trip of 



selling and shipping of game, which is greater or less distance and duration 



permitted under the laws of our State, outside and possibly of importing into 



permits the people to have this desira- the State his own game and fish, 

 ble food. It remains only to be said, I believe, however, that our law as 



in my opinion, the more and the larger to open season on ducks, geese and wa- 



the game preserves, the better. ter fowl could be amended to advan- 



Our game is fast disappearing, and tage. As it stands now the season is 



it is because, no one having an interest not only long, but it extends very late 



in the game belonging to the public into the spring of the year. This should 



exclusively, there is a tendency for be changed. The season should not 



every one to get all he can while it last longer than the first of March at 



lasts. If this could be changed and the outside. There are a number of 



the sentiment become general that the reasons for this : In the first place, 



only way our game can be preserved after having spent the winter, and 



and handed over to our posterity is while the birds are nesting and rearing 



through the individual efforts of all of their young, they certainly are not in 



the citizens of our State then game fit condition to take for food purposes, 



protection would not be the problem and in addition to this the geese and 



it is to-day. ducks, that we have in Colorado at any 



Colorado has rather stringent game rate, that frequent the lakes and 

 laws at the present time so far as the streams in this State, live largely in 

 open seasons are concerned; deer can the spring of the year upon fish caught 

 be taken only from October 1st to 10th by them around the outer edges of the 

 of each year, and one person is only water, where the fish come because the 

 entitled to one deer with horns ; the water is warm, in consequence of this 

 season on mountain sheep, antelope, a fishy taste is noticeable in eating 

 elk and all varieties of quail and many these birds, and when it is present the 

 other birds is closed for many years natural flavor is ruined, 

 to come. Rather liberal seasons are I would advocate a national law gov- 

 prescribed for ducks, geese and other erning the open season on all migratory 

 water fowl, which can be taken from birds, and on ducks and geese in par- 

 September 10th of each year to April ticular. It seems to me that a national 

 loth of the followmg year; the open ja^ is essential in order to do justice 

 season for trout (the only fish to gach of the States, as it cannot be 

 for which a closed season is prescribed) expected that one State will pass laws 

 IS from May 25th to November 30th prohibiting the killing of these birds 

 thus allowing a very large portion of -.i • -^ 'i i i ■ i • j 

 the vear in which fish can be taken. )^''.^'"" '^^ '^^'■^^'"■'^ ^^^;'.^,^ Pf'""' "' ''^' 



No game or fish which have been J"^""\^ ^^^^^^, ^^" kill them ; conse- 



taken from the public ranges or waters quently in order to be fair to all con- 



of the State, in other words, no game cerned a national 'aw should be passed 



or fish belonging to the people can fixing the open seasons so that the 



be sold under any circumstances, and States would all be on the same basis 



