THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN. 



227 



by evident realization of the fact that the 

 individual members must be awake and 

 active in the work in order to secure the 

 desired results. The cause of game, bird 

 and fish protection was never so strong in 

 this county as it is today. The people gen- 

 erally seem impressed with the belief that 

 this League means business. Already 

 prominent citizens, not yet identified with 

 the organization, are sending for informa- 

 tion as to how best to co-operate with us in 

 the work of saving the birds and eame. 

 iome of these inquiries are from sources 

 least expected. Already the boys of the 

 towns are careful to distinguish the harm- 

 less birds from the English sparrows and 

 other harmful species. The good people 

 are seconding the work of this League by 

 a word in its favor as opportunity offers, 

 and public sentiment is steadily growing 

 in favor of the rigid enforcement of the 

 game and bird laws. We are fighting a 

 winning battle, and victory is not far off. 



The officers elected are ideal men for 

 their positions. They are thorough 

 sportsmen, prominent citizens, energetic 

 workers, and determined officers. I wish 

 you could have heard Mac Cracken serve 

 notice relative to his policy as rear warden 

 of our chapter. Lawbreakers will receive 

 scant courtesy from him. He stipulated 

 only that the individual members apprise 

 him of violations. He is the right man in 

 the right place and the same may be truth- 

 fully said of Mr. Oonk. Local chapter of 

 the L. A. S. starts off in excellent shape. 



The following resolution was enthusi- 

 astically and unanimously adopted : 



Whereas, The bird, game and fish laws 

 of Ohio have been constantly and persist- 

 ently violated in Champaign county, and 



Whereas, One of the chief reasons for 

 such violation has been the lack of active 

 public sentiment favoring the severe pun- 

 ishment of such offenders, and the conse- 

 quent ease with which they have evaded 

 the just penalty of their offences, therefore 

 be it 



Resolved, By the Champaign county lo- 

 cal chapter of the L, A. S. here assembled, 

 that we do favor the vigorous prosecution 

 and severe punishment of all persistent vio- 

 lators of bird, game or fish laws, and that 

 we do hereby resoectfully request all magis- 

 trates having jurisdiction in Champaign 

 county and before whom an offender^ may 

 be tried and found guiltv. to impose the 

 severest penalty fixed by law for such of- 

 fence. 



And be it further 



Resolved, That bird, game and fish laws 

 to afford adequate protection to our birds, 

 game and fishes; should be enforced without 

 fear or favor, and that to such impartial en- 

 forcement of the law, this chapter of the 



L. A. S. pledges its hearty endorsement 

 and active co-operation. 



Be it further 



Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- 

 tions be furnished each magistrate in this 

 county. A. C. Thatcher. 



This chapter starts off with 120 mem- 

 bers, the largest number ever enrolled in 

 any chapter of this League in so short a 

 time. To Mr. Thatcher, vice warden of the 

 Ohio division, is due the credit for nearlv 

 all the preliminary work in bringing these 

 120 men into line. Here is another 'great 

 object lesson for the friends of game pro- 

 tection. You see what can be done when 

 a determined and energetic man goes to 

 work. There are such sportsmen every- 

 where. Will not more of them follow Mr. 

 Thatcher's splendid example? — Editor. 



LEAGUE NOTES. 



The Hon. Wm. Sulzer, a member of 

 Congress from New York and a member 

 of the L. A. S., has been doing some good 

 work in Congress during the past 2 years, 

 in the interests of game and fish protection. 

 He has rendered valuable support to the 

 various bills which have been introduced 

 there on these lires, and has expressed a 

 willingness to assist in this work in every 

 way possible.. He introduced a bill for the 

 protection of salmon in Alaska, but un- 

 fortunately it was defeated because certain 

 other members objected to some of its 

 features. The salmon are being slaughtered 

 at a terrific rate in Alaska, and unless a re- 

 striction law is enacted in the near future, 

 they will disappear from that great coun- 

 try, as they have disapneared from Cali- 

 fornia, Oregon and Washington. Mr. 

 Sulzer will doubtless re-introduce his bill 

 L. the next session of Congress, and I 

 trust he may then be successful. 



I have experienced no special difficulty 

 in conducting League work here, as the 

 people of this section take kindly to the 

 gam? laws as a rule. I have had no trou- 

 ble with the Indians. Your correspondence 

 with the Indian agents last winter helped 

 the cause a great deal. Game is increasing. 

 We have a large bunch of antelope in our 

 pasture and as they have not been molest- 

 ed for a long while they are doing well. 

 Deer are becoming accustomed to us, their 

 ancient enemv. and I have reports that a 

 number of them have been seen close to the 

 ranches and villages. 



W. P. Saunders, Magdalena, N. Mex. 



Recreation is all right. Every sports- 

 man should take it and read it. 



Robt. Hunter, Neepawa, Can. 



