Jan. i8 , 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
77 
Land Owner, Rabbit Hunter, Game Laws. 
Pratt, Kans., Jan. 4. —Editor Forest and 
Stream: Before the present fish and game law was 
enacted, many complaints were made to the De¬ 
partment of Fish and Game by farmers and 
owners of ranches against “rabbit hunters.” 
Under the old law, persons who hunted 
rabbits were not required by law to carry 
hunters’ licenses. 
It would seem, judging from the reports 
that come to the Department, that many hunters 
and sometimes parties of hunters would tramp 
through fields and pastures with dogs and guns 
shooting rabbits, and in many instances it was 
reported that these hunters shot things that were 
not rabbits. 
When a game warden interfered with these 
parties, he was told that they were only hunt¬ 
ing rabbits and did not have to carry a hunting 
license. Much complaint was made by farmers 
and stock raisers concerning the damage done 
by such hunters. Many times these rabbit hunt¬ 
ing trespassers had packs of dogs with them. 
The shooting done by the hunters and the chas¬ 
ing of rabbits by the dogs frequently frightened 
domesticated animals, causing them to run into 
barbed wire fences, break out of their inclos¬ 
ures, or otherwise do damage to themselves or 
adjacent property. Numbers of domesticated 
animals were reported as having been shot, some 
killed and others crippled by these so-called 
rabbit hunters. 
The law passed by the last Legislature re¬ 
quiring rabbit hunters to carry licenses was not 
intended to protect the rabbits, but the 
farmers and stock raisers who are continually 
annoyed by rabbit hunters. But little complaint 
has come to this department on account of the 
enactment of this law, except from some parties 
in the western part of the State, where jack 
rabbits are a nuisance. In such places the people 
sometimes have what they call a ‘‘round-up” hunt 
for jack rabbits or for coyote wolves. From 
twenty-five to a hundred or more people fre¬ 
quently desire to join in these hunts. Many of 
the hunters do not have hunters’ licenses. 
A number of applications have been made to 
this department for permits to carry on these 
neighborhood hunts. The department has no au¬ 
thority to give such permits. There was no pro¬ 
vision made in the law for conducting such 
hunting parties. Even though the members of 
such hunting parties carried hunting licenses, 
the trespass laws forbidding hunting on occupied 
lands without permission, should be considered. 
This department has no objection to such 
hunting parties made up for the purpose of 
hunting wolves and rabbits, provided they can 
be conducted according to law. However, we 
desire to say that we have received many letters 
from parties living in districts where these hunts 
have been carried on, making protest and calling 
upon this department for advice and help. Com¬ 
plaints have been made in many instances that 
these hunting parties, in their chase for wolves 
and rabbits, cut and tore down fences, left gates 
open that allowed stock to escape, and did other 
and further damage by running over cultivated 
fields. Serious objections were made to such 
“reckless” hunting parties going through farms 
and over other grounds. We have no particular 
recommendation to make along these lines, but 
will favor any measures that may seem advis¬ 
able for the benefit and protection of all parties 
concerned. L. L. Dyche, 
State Fish and Game Warden. 
A New Policy for Fisheries and Game 
BY' HERBERT K. JOB, STATE ORNITHOLOGIST OF 
CONNECTICUT. 
The fact that strong organizations of 
sportsmen, fishermen and nature lovers are aris¬ 
ing in Connecticut for the purpose of securing 
change in existing conditions as related to fish¬ 
eries and game, together with widespread ex¬ 
pression of individual dissatisfaction, is sugges¬ 
tive. One of these organizations has increased 
of late well on toward the thousand mark of 
membership. The chief plank in their platform 
is the securing of a single-headed commission 
of fisheries and game. Their argument is that 
under the three-headed system it has proved 
practicall}' impossible for those intelligently in¬ 
terested in birds, game and fish to get what they 
want done in the line of progressive, up-to-date 
measures. They also say that under the system 
of divided responsibility each member shelters 
himself behind the others, and the whole system, 
whether bi-partisan or otherwise, gets hopelessly 
involved in politics. If there were but one head, 
those interested in fisheries and game could make 
known their wishes, and if the commissioner did 
not come up to the mark, they would know just 
what to do. 
Of course this is no panacea. If an ignorant, 
crafty politician were appointed, it would be as 
disheartening as under the old system. Certainly, 
however, this principle of single personal re¬ 
sponsibility is the soundest and strongest, and 
is being adopted more and more in modern gov¬ 
ernment. 
Whether a commission consists of one or 
more members, there are certain general prin¬ 
ciples which apply. First, every commission 
should be a body of e.xperts or specialists iri 
the subject. Selection for such responsibilities 
on political grounds is the shame and weakness 
of our American institutions. Should there con¬ 
tinue to be a board of three on fisheries and 
game, certainly one should he an expert orni¬ 
thologist and understand the propagation of 
game and all the modern methods; another 
should be an expert in fishery matters and fish 
culture. The other might be either, but one at 
least should be a good business manager. To 
be fond of hunting or fishing is distinctly not 
sufficient qualification for such responsible posi¬ 
tion. Moreover, politics has clearly no place in 
matters connected with the delights of the open 
and should not be tolerated. 
Second, men being considered for a com¬ 
mission could properly be asked to pledge them¬ 
selves to carry out definite policies for the public 
betterment if appointed. Candidates might well 
announce the policy to which they would pledge 
themselves, which would both assist in an in¬ 
telligent selection and make it easier for the 
appointee to steer his course true. 
Following is a platform which I would sug¬ 
gest for a new policy of fisheries and game. 
Details, of course, could be varied, but as to the 
main principles T believe that any man or men, 
who aspire to make a notable record of public 
service, would have no reason to be ashamed of 
them: 
suggested OUTLINE OF A PLEDGED POLICY' FOR THE 
NEW COMMISSION OF FISHERIES AND GAME 
IN CONNECTICUT. 
I. Adopt the policy of the propagation of 
game birds, especially native species, both by 
semi-artificial and natural methods. Import no 
more foreign birds for direct distribution. Es¬ 
tablish a central State game farm on the State 
tract of the Connecticut Agricultural College. 
Employ as superintendent an expert game breeder 
who has had large success. Breed quail and 
Oregon pheasants for immediate distribution and 
experiment with other species. Also distribute 
eggs of game birds for hatching. Train the 
warden force in methods of feeding and pro¬ 
tecting wild game, and in those of feeding and 
attracting song and insectivorous birds used liy 
the German Government. Extend the system of 
State reserves for game and bird life, including 
added reserves specially for the breeding, attract¬ 
ing and protection of wildfowl, particularly wild 
ducks. 
II. (Extension work. By printed matter 
and superY'ision instruct and assist farmers, land- 
owners and sportsmen in the propagation of 
game birds and wildfowl. Co-operate with the 
private game preserves in propagation and in¬ 
crease of game. Co-operate with the Connecti¬ 
cut Agricultural College in training students and 
poultry school attendants to become expert game 
propagators to fill good positions which are al¬ 
ready waiting. Start branch game farms over 
the State as rapidly as expedient, and employ 
these trained men to run them. Encourage game 
breeding as an industry. 
III. Tone up the game warden service in 
line with methods similar to the civil service, 
as recently adopted in Massachusetts, as follows: 
Select wardens by competitive examination. 
Have a chief warden and a small staff of 
rangers on salary and giving their entire time. 
Pay local deputy wardens at least a small annual 
fee, as funds allow, and expect them to do some 
real work. Make promotion by merit. Abolish 
politics from the service. 
IV. Regulate distribution of fish, preventing 
distribution in private waters contrary to law, 
and also the subsequent posting of waters 
stocked with State fish. Secure open stocked 
waters for public use. Increase the supply of 
fingerling fish and discourage distribution of fry. 
V. Institute full publicity as a policy, both 
as to methods and expenditures. Establish regu¬ 
lar publicity system, to obviate complaint that 
things are done in the dark, and gi\'e out fre¬ 
quent and ungarbled information, both of suc¬ 
cess and failure, which is the right of the public 
who pay the bills. Use the hunting license fund 
only for the increase, protection and propagation 
of game. 
VI. Strictly keep out politics from the en¬ 
tire department, without doing which full effici¬ 
ency is impossible. Put everything on the best 
possible business basis, courting suggestions and 
publicity. 
“Mother,” said Jim. “why doesn’t Pop get 
Forest .ynd Stream every week? I’m keen to 
read all about animals and hunting; and I 
like fishing, too.” 
“I don’t know why, Jim, but your Pop 
seems to be always doing silly things anyhow!” 
Moral: Don't be like Pop. 
