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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 67 tas, instructing them to call together in council the Indians of their respective agencies, and aga,itl put before them the instructions cou-tained in office circolar of November 1,1889," and to notify them that the restrictions as to hunting contained in that circular must be strictly complied with; also that should they obtain passes ostensibly for mak-ing friendly visit,s to other reservations and then engage in hunting while en route, their passes would be recalled by this office and they would not be allowed to leave their reservation again j and moreover, that they would be liable to arrest and punishment by State officers for violating the game laws of the State or Territory in which they might be found hunting. The Indian agents were further instructed that hereafter no passes should be granted to Indians to leave the reservatiot~s for visiting or other purposes, except upon condition that they would not engage in hunting while abseut; and that at the time of granting such passes the Indians should have carefully impressed upon them the consequences of violating their promise not to hunt. Also, that the Indian agents in charge of the reservations which the Indians intend visiting should be notified of the t,ime of the departure of the Indians, their names, and the route they intend to travel. In couclusiou, the office urged the hearty cooperation of each agent in the matter, in order that the evils complained of might be corrected and the threatened danger averted. All the agents addressed have reported that they have complied with office instructions, and have taken extra precautions to prevent 'The following is the oircular referred to: To U. S. INDIAAXG ENTB: Freouent camolaints have been made to this Deusrtmant that Indians are in the ~ ~ hnhit of leaving rheir rcaurvutiune for 11.0 purpose oi Itllnting; Illat tiley slnughtar game in largo yuantirie~in violation o i tho l a s r of the Srnto or Tnrrlrory in whiolr they reside,-and that, in many instances, large numbers of wild inimsleare killed simply for their hides. In aome a- Indians, by treaty stipul%tions, have the guaranteed right t o hunt, upon specified oonditions, outside their existing reservstions. The Secretary of the Interior has deoided that the privilege of hunting under such treaty provisions is the right to merelg kill such game as ma;g be necessary to supply the needs of the Indiana and that the slaughter of wild animals in vast numbers for the hide8 only, and the abandonment of the oarcasses without attempting to make use of them, is as muoh a violstion of the treaty as an absolute prohibitionon the part of the United States against the exercise of such privilege would be. This faat should beimpre8~ed upon the minds of the Indians who have suoh treaty rights, end they will begiven to understand t.hat the wanton destruotion of game will not be permitted. And those not having the reserved treat^ privilege of hunting outside of their existing reservation should be warned against leaving their reservation for hunting, as they are liable tq arrest and prosecution for violation of the laws of the State or Terri-tory in whioh offenses may be committed. In view of the settlement of the country and the consequent dianppearanee of the game, the time hns longsince gone by when theIndians can live by the chase. They should abandon their idle and nomadio ways and endeavor to cnltivate habits of industry and adopt civilized pursuits to aeoure means for self support. |