268 FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER, 



never see another such sight. It was June and the doe was heavy 

 with fawn and this man knew that he could make no use of this 

 deer whatever. 



I saw much wasteful slaughter of deer but none quite so in- 

 human as the one mentioned. The game laws of the Pacific Coast 

 were not enforced. When well back in the mountains it was a 

 rare thing to hear the game laws spoken of, not even by the game 

 wardens. Now I think that all who are lovers of the woods and 

 fields should join in a general move to protect this wasteful 

 slaughter of all game and game birds, no matter whether we are 

 the so-called "pot hunter" or the "gentleman sportsman," but none 

 will regret this unreasonable waste of game more than those who 

 are living back in the mountains, where game is most plentiful, 

 when it is gone. Nor none will get more benefit and pleasure from 

 the very fact that they are living in a game section, yet these are 

 the ones who do not seem to care how great the slaughter, appar- 

 ently never taking it into consideration that the present rate of 

 slaughter will soon leave their game laden section as bare of game 

 as that of the older settled countries. 



Comrades, let us all join in the preservation of what game 

 and fish there is left, whether we may be called pot hunters or 

 gentlemen sportsmen. I would be the last one to wish to deprive 

 any trapper or camper from making good use of game at any time 

 when in camp, but let us be careful about the waste of it. 

 * * * 



Comrades of the trap line, you of course are aware that a 

 trapper is considered of small account by those who make or 

 cause to be made, the game laws of this state (Pennsylvania), and 

 brother trapper, are we not as much to blame as the ones who 

 concoct the game laws to their own liking? The accompanying 

 picture will show a part of the confiscation from the writer by the 

 game laws of Pennsylvania and this same confiscation applies to 

 every trapper in the state to a more or less extent. Had we 

 presented our side of this question to our. respective representatives 

 in a clear and reasonable light would we not get a square deal? 

 If not, then why not? We are aware that the man with the 

 dollar has a great influence in comparison with the poor trapper, 



