FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



35 



preserve the wild animals in the far West 

 and most of the Indian agents themselves 

 are with us in sentiment. If, therefore, 

 those interested in this work will make 

 such complaints in every case that comes 

 under their notice, the unlawful killing 

 of game by Indians may be rapidly cur- 

 tailed and eventually broken up. 



Following are copies of the replies which 



1 have received to date: 



Fort Belknap Agencv, Harlem, Mont. 

 Mr. G. O. Shields, New York: 



Aside from being a reader of Recrea- 

 tion and a consistent lover of sport, I 

 fully realize the importance of protecting 

 game in every way possible. Acting in an 

 official capacity, I have explained to the 

 Indians of this reservation the importance 

 of preserving game and I frequently impor- 

 tune them against its wholesale slaughter. 

 They seem to understand and ap- 

 preciate the condition, and while parties 

 adjacent to the Fort Belknap reservation 

 have complained in the past that our 

 Indians leave without permission and kill 

 game at all seasons, I have always been 

 able to trace these depredations to the va- 

 rious bands of nomadic Cree Indians who 

 infest this State, and not to our Indians, 

 who are made scapegoats and are some- 

 times unjustly punished. I give you my 

 assurance that I shall at all times heartily 

 cooperate with your splendid organization, 

 both personally and officially, in keeping 

 down the destruction and willful slaughter 

 of game. No passes are given to Indians 

 in large bodies to leave this reservation 

 for the purpose of hunting, and as our po- 

 lice are active and vigilant I can safely say 

 that no violations of game laws occur 

 among these people. 



M. L. Bridgeman, 

 U. S. Indian Agent. 



Crow Agency, Mont. 

 Mr. G. O. Shields, New York: 



I am in perfect accord with the senti- 

 ment expressed in your letter. As you 

 state, it is an undeniable fact that there are 



2 sides to the question. The Indian side 

 of this question is entirely different from 

 that of the settlers making complaints from 

 time to time. To begin with, under the 

 treaty with the United States entered into 

 between these Indians and the Govern- 

 ment, in 1868, the privilege was extended 

 to these Indians of hunting on any un- 

 occupied Government lands, no limit of 

 time being given or season stated. The 

 Indians of this reservation, however, ob- 

 serve the game laws to a greater extent 

 than do many whites surrounding the 

 reservation. I do not believe any of the 

 Indians have killed antelope since the pass- 

 ing of the act by the Legislature, men- 



tioned by you in your letter. A hunting 

 party of Indians seldom leaves this reserva- 

 tion, and then only in open season. I am 

 always glad to cooperate in the preserva- 

 tion of what little game is left, and should 

 be glad to hear from you at any time in 

 the future. J. E. Edwards, 



U. S. Indian Agent. 



Kiowa Agency, Anadarko, Okla. 

 Mr. G. O. Shields, New York: 



The Indians of this agency never leave 

 their reservation to kill game. There is 

 but little large game left in this section. 

 The Indians who have lived on the reser- 

 vations of this agency do but little hunting 

 of any kind. The country has been justly 

 famous for quail and chicken shooting, but 

 there is reason to believe that the day for 

 such sports in this section will soon have 

 passed. The whites that have come here 

 incidental to the opening of this reserva- 

 tion have had no respect for game laws 

 of the Territory, and have killed the birds 

 for subsistence without remorse. I re- 

 spectfully suggest that you make an ap- 

 peal to the Territorial authorities to stop 

 this wanton destruction of the birds. 

 While I remain agent for the Indians I 

 shall endeavor to prevent violations of 

 game laws on lands allotted to the Indians 

 and all agency reserve lands. Indians sel- 

 dom kill the small birds. I am under the 

 impression that the Territorial authorities 

 have recently been considering the matter 

 and appointing wardens when applied for. 

 James F. Randlett, 



Lt.-Col. U. S. A., U. S. Indian Agent. 



Tongue River Agency, Mont. 

 Mr. G. O. Shields, New York: 



I am fully in accord with you in your 

 views with regard to the indiscriminate 

 killing of wild game by Indians or others. 

 For the past 3 years I have given no hunt- 

 ing passes to the Northern Cheyenne 

 Indians, and few other passes to visit dis- 

 tant reservations, as I am satisfied that 

 the frequent visiting of Indians from one 

 reservation to another has a great tendency 

 toward keeping up their nomadic mode of 

 life, which is a great drawback to their 

 civilization. 



You may rest assured I shall use every 

 endeavor to prevent the Northern Chey- 

 ennes from killing or in any way molesting 

 wild game of any kind. These Indians 

 will be kept on their reservation as far as 

 possible. J. C. Clifford, 



U. S. Indian Agent. 



Fort Peck Agency, Poplar, Mont. 

 Mr. G. O. Shields, New York: 



I am in full accord and sympathy with 

 sentiments contained in your letter. For 

 3 years past I h^ve refused permits to 



