Efforts to Check the Slaughter 87 



crimson blood. When all were dead, the net was raised, 

 many still clinging to its meshes with beak and claws in 

 their death grip and were shaken off. They were then 

 gathered, counted, deposited behind a log with many 

 others and covered with bushes, and the death trap set 

 for another harvest. 



Scarcely able to conceal our indignation, we sat upon 

 the bank and questioned this hero, learning that he had 

 pursued the business for years, and had caught as high 

 as 87 dozen in one day, learning later that he caught 

 and killed upon that day, 82 dozen, or 984 birds. This 

 outrage was perpetrated within 100 rods of the nests 

 and in plain hearing of the nesting sounds, instead of 

 two miles away, as the law prescribes. After gaining 

 some further information, the old gray-headed land- 

 looker and his companion withdrew, bidding the pigeon 

 pirate good-day, and leaving him none the wiser for 

 the visit. Out of sight we worked our way back to 

 the road, overtook the stage and returned to Petoskey. 

 The next day the writer swore out a warrant and caused 

 the arrest of the offender, who could not do other- 

 wise than plead guilty, and had the satisfaction of see- 

 ing him pay over his fine of $50 for his poor knowledge 

 of distances. 



The shooting done at the nesting was in the most 

 flagrant violation of the protective laws. The five-mile 

 limit was a dead letter. The shotgun brigade went 

 where they listed, and shot the birds in the nesting as 



