THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN. 



3«S 



or anything else just as long as they come 



my way 



" Take some housed-up office man who 

 has but one chance in the season to go 

 out shooting. He would be a darn fool to 

 quit on 8 or 10 birds when he could get a 

 decent coat full by staying where they were." 



" A man should not pot game in any 

 shape, manner, or form, but when he can 

 make clean wing kills and do it all day, he 

 is the man I like to go out with." 



If such a platform as that does not make 

 a man a game hog, then I do not know the 

 definition of the term; yet I have been using 

 it for 20 years. I commenced my warfare on 

 these disreputable creatures away back in the 

 70's, and can show files of several different 

 periodicals, printed during these years, con- 

 taining many of my criticisms of the work 

 of the swine. 



This nameless writer says he likes to see 

 game hogs roasted, but that I use epithets 

 too freely. If he were a decent man he 

 would not think I use them too freely. A 

 criminal always considers the speech of the 

 state's attorney at the bar abusive; yet as a 

 rule these arguments are necessary to show 

 the jury the enormity of the man's crime, 

 and to secure conviction. This is exactly 

 the position I occupy now. I am not 

 only talking to make these game poachers 

 ashamed of themselves, but to show the 

 world at large the revolting nature of their 

 work, and to induce all hunters to be decent 

 in their pursuit of game. 



Mr. Pratt's correspondent says that when 

 his subscription to Recreation expires, he 

 will not renew it. Good! Don't ever think 

 of reading another copy of Recreation. 

 You are doubtless beyond redemption your- 

 self; but Recreation will keep up the war 

 on you and your class as long as I am at 

 the head of it. You can write it down in 

 your note book that for every subscription I 

 lose among your kind, I am gaining 10 new 

 ones among decent people because I con- 

 demn your course. My circulation is grow- 

 ing phenomenally all the time. This is not 

 only because I give valuable information 

 about the game fields and fishing waters, but 

 because I am educating the people in favor 

 of the preservation of game and game fishes. 

 Now take your medicine and let your sub- 

 scription lapse. 1 



LAW BREAKERS IN THE ADIRONDACKS. 



The following correspondence explains 

 itself and is published solely in the interest 

 of game preservation: 



Ilion, N. Y., August 9, 1898. 

 Mr. Geo. O. Shields, President, League of 

 American Sportsmen, New York City. 

 Dear Sir: Cannot some steps be taken to 

 check the illegal killing of deer in the vicin- 

 ity of Raquette lake? I am informed on 

 good authority, by 2 reliable parties who 

 have just returned from there, that the 



guides and others have been killing deer all 

 summer, and that the game warden is either 

 in sympathy with them or is powerless to 

 prevent it. I am further informed that at one 

 of the hotels where these parties were stop- 

 ping " mountain mutton " has appeared on 

 the bill of fare the entire season. One of the 

 gentlemen told me he saw the hind quarters 

 of a deer, with the feet on, standing in a 

 pack basket in front of a public house. Here 

 is an excellent opportunity for the League 

 to do some good work. Yours respectfully, 



Wilfrid Hartley. 



ANSWER. 



August 10, 1898. 

 My dear Mr. Hartley. 



Your valued favor 9th: I thank you most 

 earnestly for the information you give re- 

 garding the killing of deer in the Adiron- 

 dacks. Can you get the men you refer to to 

 make affidavits regarding the facts stated? 

 If so, we may proceed against these law- 

 breakers at once. I should like especially to 

 have affidavits that would completely cover 

 the case against the hotel proprietor. This 

 should give the name of the man, the dates 

 on which the men saw " mountain mutton " 

 printed on the bill of fare, a statement that 

 they had seen a quarter of venison in or near 

 his house; that they had eaten venison at his 

 table and that they could swear positively it 

 was venison. 



We are looking for just such cases as this 

 and are anxious to make a few examples. 



Awaiting your kind reply, I am, 

 Yours truly, 



G. O. Shields, President. 



Ilion, N. Y., August n, 1898. 

 Dear Mr. Shields: Your letter of 10th 

 is received. One of the men who gave me 

 the information intends to return to Ra- 

 quette lake and therefore would not be will- 

 ing to furnish affidavits that might make his 

 return unpleasant. The other person men- 

 tioned is a lady who most certainly could 

 not be induced to consent to the publicity 

 which such a course would involve. I feel 

 sure, however, that if some properly au- 

 thorized person would visit the Antlers, at 

 Raquette lake, and stay a few days there 

 would be no difficulty in obtaining all the 

 evidence desired. Yours truly, 



Wilfrid Hartley. 



New York, August 12, '98. 

 My dear Mr. Hartley: Your valued favor 

 11th: I regret we could not obtain from 

 your- friends the affidavits necessary for 

 prosecuting the manager of The Antlers, 

 but I have taken the matter up in another 

 way, which I trust may prove effective. I 

 hand you herewith copy of a letter I have 

 written the manager, which will undoubt- 

 edly interest him. Yours truly, 



G. O. Shields, President. 



