488 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[jAHTTAR-r 20, 1881. 



the protective work so long carried on by our best and most 

 self-denying sportsmen. Robebt B. Roosetelt. 



Kew Yoek, Jan. 12. 



Originally the means of taking gume permitted only a mod- 

 erate amoimt to be captm'ed, auffloicut for the use of tlie 

 cajitors for h few days only. Since tlioii lixeJ ammmiition 

 and percuiisiiiii crips and brcecli-loaders have been invented, 

 increasing llie capficity of destruction a hundred fold. Fnr- 

 theraiore, (he wliob' of the United Slates lias become wliolly 

 cir parlially cnllivalod, and game has no longer its fastnessjes. 

 'I'licii American ingcimily in vented nets Ijy which all tlic 

 quail in a couutj' can be trapped within a month, and all the 

 fish in a river can be captured during a season. 



The wealth of a prairie is Ibo grouse ; tlie value of a 

 streain is its Ush; the charm of field and water is the regular 

 enj lyment year by year and generation by generation of the 

 Kjiorts of the mooiimid and river. It is that which gives 

 manhood to the growing boy and youth to old age, and makes 

 the autumn of the year vocal with the cry of familiar birds. 



To preserve this continuity of pleasure to our children we 

 liave enacted laws limiting the killing of most kinds of game 

 to four raontlis in llio latter part of the year. 



Now comes the plea of the trapper and the trader, a.st-ting 

 that they may capture all the game they cfiii from your lields 

 and your streams by any known invention imd sell them dui-- 

 ing aU the year, providing only they freeze thcni. Pmtina 

 aside all the loss of the ciu-d that is frozen out of llie fish and 

 all the jinco that is dried up in the birds, the question of 

 right to be decided is whether men who do rio not own eitlier 

 the land or water, and wliO in most instances are vagrants 

 from a disanco shall be autliorized to capttue all lliis game 

 and ship it to ibstant cities and there sell it all llie yea'' 

 round for what price soever it may bring, and failing to sell 

 inhere to ship it to other States or foreign countries. 



Wc may admit that trapper and trader would each make 

 large gains wbicli the law prevents, but we know that some 

 nne's fields and some one's streams are left unpeopled and di- 

 nnnished in beauly and pecuniary value in order Ihat the trap- 

 pers and tratlcrs can make tlus gain. If we desire that races 

 of consiiicuous lairds andfisli and deer shall remain as part of 

 tke soil, as much a part of it as the annual flowers and the 

 mtisic of tbo waters, we must see to it that their use shall 

 be the thoughtful, moderate use of the intelligent man, and 

 not the use of the trader that has annihilated the beaver and 

 the buffalo. Chas. E. WniTEHE.\n. 



WISCONSIN SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



THE second annual meeting of the Wisconsin Sportsmen's 

 Association was held at Milwaukee, .lanuary iO. The 

 following members were present: R. M. Boyd, W. G. Biu-- 

 ker, C. W. Smith, A. Pugh, Geo. Rickeman and A. II. 

 Amos, Gun Club of Racine; A. K Delaney, j\Iavville: 8ain. 

 Pifield, Ashland; T, S. Powers, Tom ah ; H. W. Wclfclur, 

 Madison, and S. J. Williams, Fred. Ivictbrock, Siewart Mur- 

 ray, J. G. J. Campbell, O. W. Robertson, IM. P. Carpenter, 

 0."W. Wight, Prof G. W. Peckham, G. Preusser, B. liie- 

 dersdorf, 0. Pernel^es, Judge J. A. Mallorv. J. M. Neil, T, 

 S. Gray, C. Simmonds, J. G. Wells and W. E. Mann, of 

 Milwaukee. New members elected were: F. E. Pond, of 

 Westfield ; .Tohn A. Dutcher, Lotus Auer, August Lu<:ning 

 andC. A TT.iri i,r ^lilwaukee. 



Presi ■ i^tljrock delivered the following address : 



"The A 11 : rganized for the purpose of secm-ing the 



euactnita,, ..1 jiiL^.;:iims and effective laws for the protection 

 of wild aame of fur, fin and feather, and of insectivorous 

 birds, and for the enforcement of all sucli laws. The organ- 

 ization was ellected at so late a day in the session of the last 

 Legislative that it was not deemed expedient to put forth 

 any effort to influence the enactment of laws caleidated to 

 cairy out the objects of the Association But I think it was 

 generally understood at our first meeting that our committees 

 on laws should at their leisure consider the whole subject of 

 game and flsh laws, and a practicable mode of securing the 

 enforcement thereof, and at the present session lay before 

 you the results of their work. Two of such committees re- 

 cently held a joint session, and wiU to-day make recommen- 

 dations on various suljjects which I hope wiU meet with your 

 approv.il, and that yon will take such steps as will prevail on 

 the luembers of the Legislature to enact tliem into laws. In 

 the southern portion of the State the quail and prairie chick- 

 en, which were once abundant, are becoming very scarce ; 

 woidd it not be well to suspend the killing thereof altogether 

 for two years, so as to allow the depleted sections to become 

 restocked. , . , , 



"Snipe, woodcock and duck ai-e migratory birds, but they 

 find their natural breeding ground in our State. Should we 

 not forego the pleasure of spring shooting altogether, so as 

 not to kill or disturb any of those birds wlien they are pair- 

 ing and makmg ready to hatch llieir broods. I suggest that 

 it would be well to hold at some early day, if possible, a 

 meeting of sportsmen from the whole Northwest, to devise a 

 uniform system of laws for the States of Indiana, Illinois, 

 Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, in so far at least as spring 

 shooting is concenied. In wild game or flsh there is no spe- 

 cies of property : at least not until it has been reduced to 

 possession; Vmt the taking, disposition and use thereof is 

 properly within the controfot the State. Should the Legis- 

 lature not be prevailed upon to enact against the exportation 

 of every species of game from this State? In the northern 

 half of the State deer are still abundant, but are slain by the 

 himdreds everv fall for the hides and saddles alone : the ex- 

 port demand only making it profitable to slay them in such 

 great numbers. Nor should the Indians, in my judgment, 

 be exempt from the statutes enacted by white men. I am 

 credibly informed that, toward the northern border the In- 

 dians have fallen into the practice of building fences or traps, 

 miles in length, by which they are enabled to slay them in 

 large nuiiihers, and that they do this largely for their hides 

 alone. It seems to me that the time ha.s come when the In- 

 dians shoiddin this Stale either follow tbepursuitsof civilized 

 people to secure a livelihood or be kept on Iheir reservations. 

 During the last few years the State has done much Ijy way of 

 propagating fish and bringing to our waters species not indi- 

 genous here. Our State is remarkably well watered by 

 creeks, rivers and lakes, and moat of these are abundantly 

 stocked with native fish as gamy and delicious as any that 

 can be planted in them. Many of these waters have, how- 

 ever, been very much depleted by net-fishing and by other 

 unsportsmanlike practices, such as disturbing the spawn, 

 spearing during the spawnmg season, and the angling there- 

 of far beyond actual capacity to use them and only for the 

 amu-sement the catching thereof may have afforded. Wotdd 

 it not be economy if the State were to expend $100 for the 

 protection of our native stock of flsh against such ravages 



for every ft, 000 that is expended in the propagation of 

 species not natural to our own waters? Since the organiza- 

 tion of this Association our Secretary has traveled to various 

 parts of tlic State and been in corro.=i!jOndence with members 

 of the Association and local clubs, and bv liis personal en- 

 deavors has awakened much interest in 'the object of our 

 society. Indeed, from every portion of the State we have 

 received encouragement in the good work that wc have com- 

 menced. Let us then hope that the Legislature about to 

 convene will give us an intelligent game code, one that will 

 meet the approval of the mass ofthe people who interest 

 Uiomselvcs in the subject, and that tiie true sportsmen will 

 so compromise their dilfereuces of opinions and wishes as to 

 give them their united support." 



The committee on game then read the following report : 



How much soever we may wish it were otherwise, Wiscon- 

 sin lias not been e,xe.mpt from the all-pervading destruction of 

 gime. In the .southern portion of our State it is gone, ex- 

 cept, perhaps, two or three species of game birds. Fvom this 

 section tlie deer, that noljle monarch of our primeval forests, 

 has long since disappeared from the presence of his deadliest 

 foe, civilized man. Of our game birds, the prairie chicken 

 and the quail are well-nigh extinct. The ruffed grouse, that 

 gamiest of all game birds, once so pleutilul in our groves 

 in this p;irl of Wi.seon.sin, now rarely .startles ns with noisy 

 wing and impolnous flight from cover and darts from view, 

 no sooner seen than lo.^t from sight. Woodcock, if not di- 

 minishing in nuniliers, are barely holding their owm. Snipe 

 are uni|Ueslionalily dcereasing in numbers, owing chiefly to 

 the destruction they cncunnter each spring during their mi- 

 gration northward. The prompt, decisive " quack " of the 

 mallard and the wild, weird note of the woodelmck are sounds 

 which less and less frequently greet tlie e.ir as the .seasons 

 come and go. Thou.sand.s ot lakes, streams, marshes and 

 bayous in Southern Wisconsin, which a few years ago teemed 

 with tbeni, arc now tenantless the livelong year. 



All these facts point to one unmistakable result. They 

 meau extermination. 



In view of these facts, the apathy, the rather waut of in- 

 terest in this matter, which (.characterizes a large majority of 

 our people, m.y well be a suliject of astonishment. This lack 

 of interest on the part of our people generally has become so 

 universally understood and recognized that every per.-on who 

 has given the subject the slightest consideration "has reached 

 the conclusion that the final hope for the preservation of game 

 rcsis witii the fratemity of sportsmen. If lliey do not " take 

 some action toward game protection and preservailcni and to 

 arrest the marcli of eslerunuation, the future will be a repe- 

 tition of the pai't, and gentlemen who in the golden autumn 

 of each year gladly snat<;h a few days from the active pur- 

 suits of life to indulge in the soul-stirring delights of field 

 sporl, will find the pursuit of their fav rite recreation leading 

 th m year by year toward the setting sun. It should be, 

 then, iiot only the duty, tnit the pride, of every sportsman to 

 assume the responsiliility thus presented and meet the case 

 with such remedies as its exigencies seem to require. 



Two things are imperatively demanded: First, stringent 

 laws for the protection of game ; second, their relentless and 

 stringent enforcement. Toward the accomplishment of these 

 re^ults sportsmen must take the initiative and persevere, and 

 it is confldently iieiioved that witli the interest which is rap- 

 idly awakening upon this subject, Wisconsin will not be long 

 withoiii an ethcient system of game laws which shall be rig^ 

 orousiy enforced. 



But too much in the way of good restflts must not be ex- 

 pected. Even after the realization of these two objects in 

 this State it is a question whether many species of our game 

 birds will not continue to diminish in numbers, even under 

 these favorable conditions unless similar steps are taken for 

 their protection in our neighboring States. 



A large proportion of the migratory birds Which are ex- 

 posed for sale in llie spring in the Slate are taken in other 

 States and shippeO here for a market. So long as the taking, 

 killing and transporting is permitted in adjacent Stales, if 

 our Legislature drives them from the markets of this State 

 they will doubtless find a market elsewhere. The true and 

 complete remedy lies in securing protection for and iirohibi- 

 tion of trafhc in all our birds of migratory habits in all the 

 States iiaversed by them during their spring flight. By en- 

 ergetic and considerate action it is confidently believed this 

 can be accomplished. Your committee would therefore re- 

 commend that the association take such action as may seem 

 best calculated to engage the co-operation of the sportsmen 

 and sportsmen's asstrciations in our neighboring States, with 

 a view to secure laws on the subject of game protection in 

 their si'vcral States which shall be tmiform, hiu-monious and 

 co.o]ierative and especiaUy directed to the abolition of all 

 spring shooting. 



Ill regard Icriegislation in this State, yom- committee are 

 of the opinion that all laws in relation to game should lie codi- 

 fied and reduced to a form which shoulcT embrace substan- 

 tially thefoUowing provisitras : 



I'ROrOSBD t,Ee;iSI.ATION. 



I. Shooting or taking, transporting, selling, ofTering for 

 sale, having in posseB.sion, of all game animals, deer, hare, 

 rabbits, gr/n', black or fox squirrels, and all game birds and 

 wild fowl, prohiliited except during a short 0{ien season, pro- 

 vided ten or fifteen days after clo.se of opeu season allowed 

 to dispose of game on band. 



a Prohibition of all takiug by set-guns, traps, nets, 

 snares, springs, and the use thereof for such purpose at any 

 seasim of the^ear. 



3. Exp ortaiiou of all game out of the State prohibited. 



4. Limitation of the number of animals or birds lawfifl to 

 be taken in any one day by one person to be, deer, one ; all 

 other game twentv-flve. 



ij. Shooting from puiil or sneak boat,s, and the use of any 

 battery, swivel or pivot gun, or any arm oilier than the com- 

 mon gun discharged from the shoulder prohibited. 



6 No quail shooting for a term of three years. 



7. Molesting or disturbing nests or eggs of all game birds 

 and Wild fowl prohb'ited. 



8 Prohibition of .shooting any bird, game or insectivorous 

 bird from ibe trap. 



9. Proteciion of minks, rats and fur-bearing animals, same 

 a.s now provided by law. 



10 Proieetion I o ihe robin, martin, meadow-lttrk, and all 

 iusecl-dcvouring birds, their nests, birds and yoimg. 



II. Persons violating laws to be subject lo"proseculion in 

 any county witldn or through which game is unlawfxdly 

 taken or held in possession. 



V,l. All sheriffs and deouties, constables, city and village 

 marshals and police force required to make complaint of any 

 violatiejns, aort District Attorneys to attend and conduct 

 trials. 



13. Appointment of game and fish wardens by the Gov- 

 ernor are recommendations of thie Association and the Wis- 



consin Fish Commission, whose duty it .^hidl be to see that 

 laws are executed, and make complaint of violations. 



14. Penalties: Twenty-live dollars per head on deer; ton 

 dollars on all other game animals : and fine from ten dollars 

 to fifty dollars for oilier violations ; onedudf, in all cases, to 

 go to the informer. 



15. t)pen season : On deer from August 25 to Dec. 15; 

 on all grouse, ducks and snijie from Aiigiist 25 to December 

 If); woodcocks from July iO to December lo; on hares, 

 rabbits and animals from September 1 to February 1. 



All of whidi is respeclfull,y submitted, 



A. K. Dklasky, 



GDBTaVB PllBrBSJIR, 



O. B. Thomas, 



Committee. 



By a suggestion of Judge Mallory an amendment was 

 adopted making the infringement a uiisdenjeanor. 



Atlamendmeni was also adopted to the paragraph num- 

 bered "4," by which "deer" was stricken out altogetber. 



An amendment was also adopted to No. "(>," classing 

 prairie chicken with quaii, SO as not to be shot for three 

 years. 



Number " 8 " was stricken out. 



An araendmeut to No. "11" made the penalty oitlier toe 

 or imprisonment. 



It wa-" also ordered lo insert a clause prohibiting the catch- 

 ing of wild pigeons with nets. 



Juilge Mallory submitted the report of the committee ott 

 "Enforcement of Game, Fish and Trespass Laws" as fol- 

 lows: 



To T]i- M't ,, ,--,!:,- '^I'OETBMEN's ASSOCIATION: The com- 

 unttce M I - ; I of game, fish and trespass laws re- 

 spectfnll, Tollowiug report: 



In the i|i: :i i_ ji ,oLir coniniitiee the first step to be taken 

 for the onforeement of such laws is to appoint a committee 

 for the pirrposc of raising a spee'.ial fund to lie used for pay- 

 ing expenses of prosecuting violations of .such laws. 



your conimiltee further recomuiend that this As.soeiation 

 make an effort to secure the passage of a law l)j which the 

 Governor .shdl be authorized to appoint aame constables 

 or fish wardens in such localities as may lie neeessary, mak- 

 ing it the duty of such officers to be waiciiful and diligent in 

 their cfl'ons to delect and bring to punishment all iiersons 

 wdio may be committing violations of such laws ; and reqiiir- 

 ing the prosecuting attorney of the counly in which any vio- 

 lation of such laws is committed to prosecute cases against 

 such offenders. 



It is the further opinion of your committee that effort 

 should be made to secure the organization of local .societies 

 in every county in the Stale when siicli a soeieiy may be 

 needed, for the purpose of a.ssisling in I lie enforcement of 

 the game and lish laws. 



Your committee do not make any recommendations as to 

 trespass laws, but suggest that subject for such consideration 

 as the Associaiion may think proper to give it. 



All of which is respectfully submitted". 



J. A. Mallort, 

 B. Leiokksdokf, 

 OoijiU^ttee. 



The election of ofllcers resulted as follows : 



Prosident— Fred. Reitbrock, Milwaukee. 



Secretary- O.W. Kobertsoii, Alilwaukce. 



Treasurer— Stewart Miirrav, ililwaukec. 



Vice Presidents— Chauncy Simouds, Milwaukee ; R. M. 

 Boyd, Racine ; L. A. Wuichcfitcr, Whitewater ; R H. Strong, 

 Barftboo ,- C. E. Norbeck, La Crosse ; A. K. Delaney, May- 

 ville ; Chas. Felker, Oshkosli : Wm. Merril', Prairie du Chien; 

 M. T. Bailv, Madison; G W. Corning, Portage; T. S. 

 i'owers, Toii.ali: J. O. Kowell, Beaver Dam; B. F. Tcall, 

 Eau Claire; VV A. \'aii Brunt, Horicon ; Hon. 8. Pifleld, 

 Ashland; J. C. Neville, Green Bay; F. A. Turner, SUmgh- 

 tou : L. M. Wvatt, Fond du Lac : E, W. Jones, Waupuu : 

 John Laigh, Oconto; Peter Greeley, Mukwonago; M. J. 

 Egim, Franklin, Mil. Co.; II A. Taylor, Hudson; Jacob 

 Kolter, Wausau ; I-ou Walker. Plainlield ; J. H. Boyle, Win- 

 neconne; F. VV. Saekett, Berlin. 



The commitlee on game Uiws was instructed to codify the 

 same, and to prepare th«m in proper shape for presentation 

 to the Legislatm-e. The next meeting of the Associatiou 

 was appointed for the third Tuesday during the Legislative 

 session at Madison. 



HIGHHOLDS, SQDIBKELS ANU WOODCOCK. 



Fast CbboTBb, New York, Jan. 10. 

 Mitm- Fmmt and Stream : 



1 havebi'cn deeply iuleresled reading the various contribu- 

 tions lo Foi:est .A?iii Stc.ea.m on the propo-ed revision of the 

 game laws, and btlim-e with some of the wuiers licit enforcu- 

 uitnt of the law is more needed than rrvision. But that 

 some of Ihe sections are defective my pi ity ofBcea of conslable 

 and game cnnslable for the la'l couple of years have made 

 palpably plain to me. I have succeeded, however, sutficieDtty 

 well to cause the violations upon Uie liind to be very rare 

 where they were once frequent, ami have entirely stopped the 

 drawing of seines in nutchinson's River, near Pelham Bridge. 

 Tina I ellecled two years ago last June by anesling fimr 

 parties whom I caught in the act. They got off lighlly, but 

 have never wet their seines in tlie rivet f-ince. For this 1 re- 

 ceived favorable mention in Fokkst anb Strea.m at the lime 

 and the thanks of the Ashing fraternity gentraliy. <Ja differ- 

 ent occasions since I have warned and driven off other parlies 

 williout making an arrtst ; the laws in regard to salt water 

 being somewhat vaiue and defective. 



1 would suggest that the rivers, salt water bays and estu- 

 aries eniptyiiig inio Long Islai d ;Sound be dift uctly slatHil, 

 and if fykes are allowed the square size of the mi sh to be 

 plainly given, and that pounds be prohibited in Westche=ter 

 County. 



Section twelve should have the swallow mentioned as well 

 as 1 he martin, as some so calk d sportsmen are apt lo ale ot 

 swallows when a.saembled for alass ball and pigeon shootuig. 

 This section, ns well as section iliiiteen, as uiueiHlidediulBSu, 

 has no clause making the killiog of the birds mentioned a 

 misdemeanor. Wuhout this the summary arrest wiihout 

 warrant, provided for in sectiem thirty-five, is iisehsB, and a« 

 Ihat is about the only way to bring non-resident ofleud--r8 to 

 justice, the bilUng of the bu-ds should cerlaiuiy be made a 

 misdemeanor. 



1 see that Col. Pike in bis oddress to the Long Lsland 

 farmer proposes to abolish the shooting o£ meadow larks, 

 bighboldsand "1 suppose robins, under the head of song 

 bird." Of course, they are all iusectivorong birds, but so are 

 the quail and ruffed grouse, and what these are to the wiog- 

 shot ihe robin and highhold are to those who have never ac- 

 quired the art of stopping the swift flying. game bird on tbo 



