fias, 4ath, 
 
 
cedar swamp. How that food did disappear! And 
how much! 
     Then the trail again. It was past one o'clock 
 by this time. New Year's Day on the trail. Snow 
 was beginning to fall more heavily. In an hour 
 more we would be in. Let 'er snow! What a 
 glorious adventure! Boy, those beans were good! 
 "Gus!" "Huh?" That was good tea, too, Gus; 
 good and strong. "Gee, Nanook! Gee!" 
 
 
 Fins, Featlzers and Fur to Judge 
 
          Essays on Bird Life 
    This publication has been asked to act as 
 judge in a contest instigated by Warden Klett, 
 of Spring Lake. It is a rather unusual contest 
 in several ways; the prizes are to be awarded 
 both on ability to write on the birds observed 
 and the success of bird-houses to be made and 
 placed by the contestants. One of the rules of 
 the contest is that no contestant may enter who 
 has more than one cat about the home premises. 
    Fifty points will be given for the story, 
which will be judged on the facts and observa- 
tions noted-spelling, penmanship and composi- 
tion will not be considered. Fifty points will be 
given on bird-house work, taking Into considera- 
tion the work on the houses, the number erected 
and the number of bird families raised in them. 
    This project has our most sincere commen- 
dation and we will be willing to read and judge 
all the essays submitted to us on this subject, 
whether in connection with this contest or any 
other similar contest In the state. It is our hope 
that other wardens throughout the state will un- 
dertake similar contests in their respective ter- 
ritories-the more the merrier, and the more will 
our youth appreciate the beauties and attractions 
of our bird, life. 
    Three Montgomery sportsmen recently inau- 
Lurated an essay contest in the local high school; 
each contributed five dollars to the prize money, 
which was divided among five pupils writing the 
best essays. The subject was "Conservation," and 
there were 57 entries which were judged by offi- 
cials of the high school in a neighboring town. 
    The three sportsmen felt well repaid for 
the money they invested in this project; the 
contestants had to familiarize themselves with 
the principles of conservation as a starter, and 
through the efforts of these same sportsmen, the 
prize winning essays are being published, one 
each week, in the local paper; this itself being 
rather a nice reward for work well done. 
 
    Bird refuges, game laws and other protective 
measures for wild life are not merely measures 
for the protection of sport or for the esthetic 
interest of wild birds and animals. Their preser- 
vation is an economic gain. . . . The cost to the 
states in protection of game is inconsiderable 
compared with the savings and contributions of 
the birds and game to the communities. Hence 
the claims of the wild life of America for con- 
sideration are not those of mendicants but of 
nature's. capitalists and industrial workers, says 
the Washington Post. Many a man does not count 
as much economically for his state as the bird 
that flies over his head. 
 
    A bird on the land is worth hundreds in hand. 
 
 
   Hancock Waltonians Release 
 
        Hungarian Partridges 
    Another red letter day in the young life of 
 the local chapter was rung up recently when 
 we received a crate of 56 Hungarian partridges 
 through the courtesy of the State Game and Fish 
 Department headed by our able commissioner, 
 George W. McCullough. These birds were shipped 
 direct to Kerkhoven from Czecho-Slovakia. From 
 there they were brought via auto by Lloyd Sun- 
 deen, who patrols the Kerkhoven vicinity for 
 game or fish violators. 
    These birds were taken to the home farm 
 of Leuty Brothers where Mr. Sundeen supervised 
 their liberation. It was a rather raw day, but the 
 Huns took kindly to their new home, one of force 
 rather than by adoption. 
    Plans were made with the boys pertaining 
 to the care and feeding of the birds, which, by 
 the way, is getting to be their hobby, as many 
 pheasants are seen every day on their large 
 acreage. The boys feel now that they have a 
 real game farm. 
    The local chapter I. W. L. A. does not assume 
any credit for getting these birds at this time, 
but wishes to pass that on to the State Game 
and Fish Department. 
    Mr. McCullough, in his administration, has 
sought to give back to the lovers of the outdoors 
something for the money they pay in the form 
of game or fish licenses. Millions of fish fry of 
all varieties favorable. to 'Minnesota waters are 
released every year by hatcheries of this state. 
    In recent years, upland game, especially 
pheasants and partridge, have been introduced. 
The fact that we already have pheasants in con- 
siderable numbers in many parts of the state is 
ample evidence in favor of the department's 
plans. The only criticism we would make is that 
our license fee is so low that enough money is 
not available for this great work. Lovers of the 
great outdoors will gladly supply the means when 
once they see the soundness of the proposition. 
    The local chapter will make an earnest effort 
to protect the partridge that have come from 
the department, not only because of their ini- 
tial cost but if we are ever able to hunt them, 
our foundation stock must be taken care of in 
order to insure a numerical strength to warrant 
an open season. 
    Too many reports are coming in about the 
shooting of pheasants and our hunch Is that any 
one that has a red drop of real sportsmen's blood 
in him will see the erorr of his ways. We are 
becoming indignant and if you are pinched, 
blame no one but yourself. 
    Join the local chapter and help feed and' 
protect all the game in closed season so that 
posterity may enjoy some of the thrills that lure 
men into the broad open spaces.--Hancock 
Record. 
 
    The gray squirrels which enliven some of 
our public streets are poor traffic dodgers. When 
you approach one in the street while driving, 
give it a chance to get out of harm's way. 
 
    The only snake to be feared in Minnesota is 
the rattler, found in very few   localities, and 
usually very prompt in notifying trespassers of 
his presence.