3B 



RECREATIOX. 



thinking we might sec the animal's eyes 

 shine and thus get a shot at him. Jim was 

 to have the first chance. Getting down 

 on my hands and knees I peered cau- 

 tiously into the darkness, when suddenly 

 something dashed into my face and eyes 

 and a horrible smell filled the air. My 

 eyes felt as if they were coming out by the 

 roots. I doubt if any North American 

 Indian ever performed such a war dance 

 as I did the next 20 minutes. Jim 

 laughed and yelled and kicked about like 

 an old fool. His miserable little cur 

 started for home with his tail between his 

 legs, and that was the last we saw of him. 

 On our way heme I promised Jim 10 

 loads of shot and an old Fenian dirk 

 knife if he would not tell, but the next 

 morning I could see a fly on a church 

 steeple 4 miles away. 



JUSTICE IS BLIND IN MAINE. 



You wished to know the sequence of 

 Game Warden French's seizure, on a 

 wharf at Eastport, of the carcasses of 

 \J deer consigned to Boston parties. 

 The deer were brought to the wharf 

 in barrels by one Byron Lurchin, who 

 runs a lighter between Pembrooke 

 and Eastport. French obtained 2 indict- 

 ments against Lurchin, and brought the 

 case before the Spring term of the S. J. 

 Court in this city. One indictment was 

 thrown out because of an error in the writ. 

 On the other the jury refused to convict 

 on the ground that Lurchin, being a 

 common carrier, presumably did not 

 know what the barrels contained. The 

 fizzle in this case and in one or 2 others 

 brought by Mr. French was duplicated in 

 every criminal case which came before 

 the last session of the S. J. Court. The 

 prosecuting attorney failed to obtain a 

 single verdict and became an object of 

 ridicule among his brother attorneys. 



Other cases in the Western part of the 

 county also failed of their purpose, or were 

 so modified that the punishment was prac- 

 tically nothing. Some of these parties 

 were old offenders. When they were 

 finally caught it was found they had a 

 strong "political pull;" hence the fail- 

 ure to convict. French is an alert war- 

 den and applies the law without fear or 

 favor. 



The fish and game law department of 

 our State has passed into the hands of 

 the political machine, and is being used 

 to protect politicians rather than game and 

 fish. Only the vast extent of Maine's 

 woods and waters saves her game from 

 present extermination. Only a few'weeks 

 ago a head warden was appointed for this 

 county (Washington) who is to have con- 

 trol over the county wardens. He knows 



politics and nothing else, and it is said 

 he was appointed on the understanding 

 that French was to be retired. The friends 

 of protection are losing heart, for 

 French's retirement means a great blow- 

 to the game and fish interests. For the 

 last 10 years deer have steadily increased 

 in this county. French is so thoroughly 

 feared that deer have a better chance here 

 than in other parts of the State. 



A. T. S., Calais, Me. 



HOUNDING DEER AT TUPPER LAKE. 



It has been my pleasure during the past 

 year to read Recreation, and I am in 

 sympathy with you in your good work 

 against those who abuse the privileges 

 accorded them by our game laws and who 

 would, if permitted, exterminate our game. 

 Through ill health I have been obliged to 

 live in the Adirondacks the past 10 years. 

 Being fond of both hunting and fisRing 

 and having done much of both, I am in a 

 position to draw comparisons relative to 

 various changes in the game laws. 



The Adirondack region certainly has its 

 share of game hogs. I am acquainted with 

 many sportsmen, and must admit that our 

 guides are sometimes encouraged by them 

 to break the law, particularly in deer 

 hunting. The law forbidding hounding 

 was the best thing done in years to pro- 

 tect our deer. This vicinity is already 

 showing benefit derived from it. I wish 

 it might be extended another 5 years when 

 it expires in 1902. 



The clandestine use of dogs ought to be 

 stopped for hunting deer in the season 

 when only still hunting is permitted. There 

 are a few in our section who practice this 

 low-bred business and actually in places 

 where anyone of ordinary ability as a hunter 

 can get a shot any day with little fatigue. 

 I have been told on good authority that at 

 and near Tupper lake hounding is openly 

 indulged in, and has been for years past. 

 I think the local game wardens are lax 

 in their duties. This is in great measure 

 due to the fact that they live in the 

 territory over which they have jurisdic- 

 tion. I say this by way of excuse, be- 

 cause we all know one is less apt to serve 

 a warrant on a good neighbor or friend 

 than on some one practically unknown. 

 It seems to me to be wholly a success 

 the warden should be a comparative 

 stranger to those over whom he has con- 

 trol as a protector of game. Had hound- 

 ing been continued much longer the Ad- 

 irondack deer would soon have vanished. 

 As it is there is no reason why the North 

 Woods should not continue to offer as 

 good sport as Maine or any other of our 

 different hunting regions. 



J. T. Gale, Bloomingdale, N. Y. 



