FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 
The man who quits when he gets enough, with plenty of game still in sight, is a real sportsman. 
GROUSE SNARERS CAUGHT. 
A. C. Ferguson and Stephen Horton, of 
West Sandlake, New York, went after 
some grouse snarers in October last and 
caught them. The detectives found several 
brush fences which the snarers had built 
and in which they had concealed numerous 
wire snares set with springs. Ferguson and 
Horton camped by one of these fences over 
night and just at daylight they caught 
Henry Wagner, of Alps, N. Y., in the act 
of taking a ruffed grouse from one of the 
snares. He had in his possession another 
grouse and a rabbit which he had taken 
from other snares. He was waltzed into 
the justice’s office and fined $88.95, which 
he paid. It doubtless took the proceeds of 
many weary days of trapping to clear the 
justice’s docket, and it is hoped Henry may 
find some more profitable 
Meantime his name goes down in the game 
hog book as number 921. 
Frank Cipperly and Charles Acknour co- 
operated with Ferguson and Horton in 
running this grouse snarer to cover. In 
reporting the case to me Mr. Ferguson 
Says: 
Wagner had about § niles of grouse 
fence. There were 2 mo.2 birds in his 
fence when we caught him, >vt as he came 
from the direction opposite that which we 
expected he had not been to the other 
birds, so saved himself a few dollars. You 
cannot hit these fellows too hard.- I can 
go on Sandlake mountains and in one day 
collect 5 pounds of snare wire, no one wire 
more than 15 inches long. Our club, of 200 
members, is trying to drive these snarers 
out of business, and we will eventually suc- 
ceed if we have to pay the expenses out of 
our own pockets. We have to give them 
full doses or it does not count. Last Sat- 
urday I was on the farm of a woman whom 
we arrested and fined $44 last fall, and 
she now has 4 to 5 miles of fence on her 
place. She says she is considerably ahead 
of the game, at that. I am in hope of land- 
ing her soon. They are all as sly as foxes 
and as cunning as coons. We have to 
study their respective habits before we can 
catch them in the act. For instance, some 
look at their snares about midnight, others 
at 4 o’clock a. m., while others go just at 
twilight. Then, again, others will let birds 
lie on cool ground a week, until they go 
to market, as they run no risk of our find- 
ing birds at their houses provided a search 
is made. They also show their cunning 
in carrying birds to market. I have known 
birds carried under a load of charcoal; in 
false seats; in sacks; in butter jars, with 
an butter over top; in the lining 
occupation. | 
of an overcoat; in a new flour barrel headed 
up; under potatoes and apples; and in many 
other ways. 
Arthur C. Ferguson, West Sandlake, N. Y. 

COURAGEOUS WARDEN VINDICATED. 
I have been doing some hard work in 
Ashtabula county. I am a deputy State 
game warden. I became interested in birds 
and game by reading RECREATION, which I 
consider the most valuable journal of its 
kind. I try to enforce the laws regardless 
of who the violators may be. I have at 
times taken some of my friends into court 
and made them suffer. We have a compre- 
hensive law on song and _ insectivorous 
birds, covering every species except crows, 
English sparrows, etc. Last winter I re- 
ceived instructions from our chief to go 
after the milliners, and I brought cases 
against 10 different parties. The move- 
ment was not popular here, and the press 
quite generally roasted me. However, I 
knew my rights and maintained them. At 
the present time there is not an establish- 
ment in Ashtabula county handling illegal 
plumage or birds; and I have the satisfac- 
tion of knowing I am right. The public 
and the press are now coming our way. 
If “every warden would, in a straight- 
forward way, enforce the laws it would be 
a grand thing; but too many either use the 
office for their own ends or for the benefit 
of their friends. I enclose a clipping from 
one of our county papers which explains 
the case. The editor turned himself loose 
last winter when I caused the arrest of 
one of his town milliners in whose stock 
I found a lot of birds. I asked him to go 
down and look at the stock. The clipping 
is the result of his visit to the store. I 
wish everyone could read Recreation. It 
is one of the best educators of the young, 
and places an older person in such a light 
that if he has any manhood he can not help 
trying to be good. 
G. H. Ray, Rock Creek, Ohio. 
The clipping Mr. Ray sends is as follows: 
Last winter when Game Warden Ray, 
acting under instructions of the State 
warden, caused one of his deputies to make 
a raid on local millinery stores and confis- 
cate, for evidence only, such birds as were 
protected by law and whose sale was con- 
trary to the statutes, this official was the 
subject of some severe criticism by the peo- 
ple and the press. Mr. Ray is not the mean 
man that his position makes him appear. 
This morning he found it necessary to in- 
vestigate a Main street millinery store. No 
was. ou the 
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