THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN. 



61 



sale of woodcock, grouse and quails. There 

 are 24 States in the Union which already 

 have laws on their statute books prohibit- 

 ing the sale of certain species of game at 

 all times of the year. The quail is one of 

 trje birds included in all of these laws. 

 In some cases the prohibition also 

 includes ruffed grouse, prairie chickens, 

 wild turkeys, etc. Such laws are, of 

 course, always aimed to protect the species 

 of game which, through thoughtlessness or 

 greed of sportsmen, or game dealers, or 

 game hogs, have become so scarce as to 

 require rigid and vigorous measures for 

 their protection. 



These prohibitory laws are being en- 

 forced in all the States referred to. This 

 League alone has convicted 330 people 

 for violations of such laws within the past 

 year. Ohio has a law prohibiting the sale 

 of quails at all times, and about 250 people 

 were convicted in that State last year for 

 violations of this provision in the law. If 

 such laws can be enforced in other States, 

 why not in New York? 



If we succeed in getting the bill through 

 the Legislature at Albany, you may rest 

 assured this League will see that it is rig- 

 idly enforced throughout the State. That 

 is what this League was made for, and it 

 has certainly shown itself competent thus 

 far to carry out its intentions. 



We may not succeed in getting the bill 

 through this year, but if not we will go at 

 it again next year as soon as the Legisla- 

 ture assembles, and we shall keep at it 

 until we pass the bill. We shall not stop 

 at prohibiting the sale of quails and 

 woodcock, but we shall have laws 

 prohibiting the sale of all kinds of 

 game, at all times, in all the States 

 of the Union, within 5 years. There 

 are thousands of people demanding the 

 passage of such laws in States where they 

 do not already exist, and there will be 

 hundreds of thousands demanding them 

 within the next few years. Game is not a 

 legitimate article of commerce. It belongs 

 to the people of the State in their sovereign 

 capacity, and it is a fundamental principle 

 of law, as old as the hills, that a man may 

 take from the public property enough for 

 his own use, but he may not sell any of it. 

 The Supreme Court of the United States 

 has said that a man who kills game and 

 reduces it to possession acquires even then 

 only a qualified interest in it. He may use 

 it as food or may use the skins of game ani- 

 mals for clothing, or for any other do- 

 mestic purposes, 'but he may not sell. 



The Government allows the settler to go 

 on Government land and get all the tim- 

 ber he needs to build his house, his barns, 

 his f^ices, his bridges, and even supply 

 his family with fuel, but let him cut one 

 tree and sell it, and he then commits a 



penitentiary offence. 



Q. 0, Shields. 



THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION. 



Chief Warden Brooks has lately sent out 

 a circular letter in which he says : 



As we are entering on another year, this 

 seems an opportune time to review the 

 year just closed. Comparing the present 

 condition of this division with that of a 

 year ago, the result is gratifying, although 

 not so much so as I wish. A year ago this 

 division was organized with 25 members, 

 and E. W. Wild was appointed Chief War- 

 den. In May, Mr. Wild, for lack of time 

 to devote to the work, resigned and C. M. 

 Brooks, of Keene, was appointed to fill the 

 vacancy. At that time there were 44 mem- 

 bers in the State. In the next 6 months 

 the division doubled its membership.. Hav- 

 ing passed the 50 mark we were entitled 

 to a Secretary-Treasurer, and Sidney Co- 

 nant, of Keene, was appointed to that po- 

 sition. Two local chapters were organized, 

 one in Cheshire county, F. P. Beedle, Rear 

 Warden, and one in Sullivan County, W. 

 M. Buswell, Rear Warden. Several local 

 game wardens were also appointed. The 

 division has distributed the League printed 

 matter throughout the State. It has also 

 printed circular letters and the State fish 

 and game laws, etc., for distribution to 

 members and sportsmen. 



A word to the members : Do not think 

 your duty ended when you cast your vote 

 for the division officers. What can these 

 officers do without the support of the mem- 

 bers? Comparatively little. You will prob- 

 ably say, "How can I support them?" There 

 are several ways. First, by renewing your 

 membership immediately on its expiration. 

 Second, by inducing 2 or 3 of your friends 

 to join the League. Do you realize what 

 it would mean to our cause if every mem- 

 ber secured 2 new members this next year? 

 It would more than treble our influence ; 

 and every member owes it not only to his 

 division but to the National League to get 

 to work. Third, keep your eyes open for 

 violations of the fish and game laws, re- 

 port ail cases to the League officers and 

 assist these officers to prosecute the offend- 

 ers. If every member will take it on him- 

 self to do these 3 things, the next 12 months 

 will see the League an important factor in 

 fish and game matters throughout the 

 State. 



To the readers of Recreation and sports- 

 men who are not members, let me say a 

 few words. Join the L. A. S. at once. We 

 are working for your interests, and in re- 

 turn you should give us your support by 

 joining our ranks. Send your name to 

 the division officers and we will gladly 

 explain our work to you and listen to your 

 suggestions. 



To those who wish to join or renew and 

 do not know how to do it: Send your 

 name, your address and your dollar 

 to the Chief Warden. We will see 



