FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



The man who quits when he gets enough, with plenty of game still in sight, is a real sportsman 



TO RESTRAIN THE INDIANS. 



Magdalena, N. M. 

 Editor Recreation : 



As the time is about ripe for the Indians 

 to come down on their annual slaughtering, 

 I hope some preventive measure can be 

 taken at headquarters. The Indian bureau 

 should stop their agents on the reserva- 

 tions from issuing these hunting passes, 

 when it is against the laws of the Terri- 

 tory that this slaughtering should continue. 

 From reliable parties I hear that one small 

 party of Indians secured about 200 pelts, 

 much of the meat being wasted, no doubt. 

 This was their hunt last fall before the 

 L. A. S. was in force here. It is nothing 

 unusual for the Indians to round up a 

 bunch of antelope and kill every one of 

 them. At least it was not at one time ; but 

 antelope are so scarce now it may be diffi- 

 cult to find a bunch. If the agents would 

 use their influence to keep the Indians on 

 their reservations, we should be saved a 

 great deal of trouble, perhaps bloodshed, as 

 our citizens are determined. These agents 

 may share in the spoils, namely, venison 

 and buckskin ; as at all the agencies there 

 are small stores, or trading posts. 



This is a great game section, but if this 

 slaughter continues much longer it will be 

 anything but a game field. At present our 

 division is not strong enough to cover the 

 entire section, of which we are in the cen- 

 ter, or nearly so, but as soon as we are al- 

 lowed a secretary we shall try to increase 

 the membership. W. P. Sanders. 



To Mr. Sanders I replied : 



Following is a copy of a letter I have 

 written the Commissioner of Indian Af- 

 fairs : 



Hon. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 



Washington, D. C. 



About a year ago I had some correspond- 

 ence with you regarding the killing of game 

 in New Mexico by Indians. I am now in 

 receipt of a letter from the Chief Warden 

 of the New Mexico Division of the League 

 of American Sportsmen, calling my atten- 

 tion to the fact that a great deal of game 

 was killed by Indians in New Mexico all 

 last fall, in violation of the Territorial 

 laws, and asking that steps be taken to 

 prevent a repetition of such slaughter this 

 year and for all future years. I respect- 

 fully request, therefore, that you take up 

 this matter with your agents in New Mex- 

 ico and that you positively prohibit the is- 

 suing of passes for Indians to leave their 



respective reservations for any purpose 

 during the fall or winter. 



You are doubtless aware that the elk is 

 practically exterminated in New Mexico 

 and that but few antelope and deer are 

 left there. I am safe in saying that there 

 are scarcely 200 antelope left in the entire 

 Territory. At the earnest solicitation of 

 this League the Legislature of New Mex- 

 ico enacted a law last winter prohibiting 

 the killing of elk, deer, antelope and moun- 

 tain sheep at any time prior to March, 1906. 

 It is believed that if this law can be en- 

 forced, even to a reasonable extent, these 

 species of game will rapidly increase, and I 

 trust we may have the hearty cooperation 

 of your department in enforcing this law. 

 The better class of residents of that Ter- 

 ritory are deeply interested in this case and 

 a large number of the best business men 

 there are members of this League. They 

 are cooperating with us diligently in our 

 efforts to save the few remaining animals 

 of these various species from extermina- 

 tion and they will heartily appreciate 

 whatever efforts you may put forth to 

 keep the Indians on their reservations. 1 

 should be glad to be advised of your ac- 

 tion in this matter. 



I append the reply of the Honorable 

 Commissioner: 



Mr. G. O. Shields, New York : 



I am in receipt of your communication of 

 the 23d ultimo. In reply, you are informed 

 that the respective Indian agents and 

 school superintendents in charge of the In- 

 dian reservations in New Mexico Terri- 

 tory, have this day been fully advised rel- 

 ative to the statements made in your letter 

 as to the destruction of game in the said 

 Territory, and have been instructed to take 

 such action as may be necessary to pre- 

 vent, so far as possible, a repetition of the 

 evils complained of in the premises. 



W. A. Jones, Commissioner. 



It is well known that one of the most 

 serious problems in the case of protecting 

 the wild animals of the far West is that of 

 preventing the Indians from slaughtering 

 the game. Ever since its organization the 

 League of American Sportsmen has been 

 laboring with the Indian Bureau with a 

 view to preventing as far as possible any 

 of the Western Indians from leaving their 

 agencies, under any pretext, in order that 

 they may invade the hunting grounds to 

 kill game there in violation of the State 

 laws or the laws of reason and economy in 



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