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RECREATION. 



OHIO'S CONTRADICTORY GAME LAW. 



I have investigated the alleged killing 

 of pheasants at Chillicothe. It appears 

 that the birds were ruffed grouse, perhaps 

 crossed with Mongolian pheasants. They 

 were shot during the open season. Even 

 if we could prove they were Mongolians 

 we could not, under our badly mixed game 

 laws, prosecute any one for killing them, 

 but only for having them in possession be- 

 fore 1903. 



The farmer element of the last Legisla- 

 ture got the idea that all the legislation 

 we proposed was for the benefit of city 

 sportsmen. So by the end of the season 

 the game laws were in a deplorable condi- 

 tion; one section permitting game to be 

 killed at almost any time, while another sec- 

 tion prohibits its possession during that 

 time. We are getting along the best we 

 can until the General Assembly again con- 

 venes and we can have things straightened 

 out. 



Despite the unfavorable conditions, our 

 deputies collected over $4,000 in fines last 

 year. We put out over 2,000 Mongolian 

 and English pheasants, besides distributing 

 nearly 600 settings of eggs. All the birds 

 are doing nicely as far as we can learn. 



Compared to the amount of game in our 

 State, the violations of law that escape 

 our notice are few . 



L. H. Reutinger, Athens, (X 



The above was written more than a year 

 ago. — Editor. 



Our State Game Warden suggests a law 

 to prohibit the giving away of protected 

 game and fish. Such a law would un- 

 doubtedly have a good effect. I know 

 men in this town, well fixed financially and 

 expert shots, who spend 3 or 4 days afield 

 every week during the open season. They 

 slaughter 15 to 50 birds a day and give 

 them to their friends. Some of these men 

 go North where birds are more plentiful, 

 and send down all they can kill. They 

 are game butchers and game hogs in every 

 sense of the word; yet they observe the 

 law and do neither more nor less than 

 the law gives them a right to do. They are 

 doing more to exterminate game than any 

 other class of hunters. 



Things are well stirred up in this vi- 

 cinity and popular sentiment is in favor 

 of better protection for game. If a good 

 bill is introduced in the Legislature and 

 properly pushed, it will go through. 



J. Elmer Pratt, Grand Rapids, Mich. 



The work which Recreation has accom- 

 plished in Michigan, together with the help 

 it has had from the Division members, who 

 have co-operated with the State officials, 

 is remarkable. A great many important 



arrests have been made and in nearly every 

 instance a conviction has been secured. 

 The deputies have also been aided by L. 

 A. S. members in States adjoining us. 

 J. Elmer Pratt, C, W. Mich Div. L. A. S., 

 Grand Rapids, Mich. 



THE GAME HOG. 



R. R. R. 



He was a hunter famed afar 



For his astounding luck; 

 He loved to take a railroad car 



And fill it up with duck. 



And when he had arranged the pile, 



Wild envy to awaken, 

 He'd conjure up his sweetest smile 



And have his picture taken. 



"See here," he cried, "my bid for fame; 



And I should like to state 

 You'll find the number of my game 



Nine hundred ninety-eight." 



"Nine hundred ninety-eight?" said we, 

 "You must have missed the dog! 



A thousand head of game we see, 

 You didn't count the hog." 



But never word his hand could stay; 



He swore that he would go 

 The even tenor of his way — 



Why not? he'd like to know! 



And so he would prepare to slay, 



And hie him to the chase; 

 The even tenor of his way 



Was very, very base. 



His fill of game he still would get,. 



Whene'er he tramped the fields; 

 The little animals he met 



Were much in need of Shields. 



Herewith find $1 for which please send 

 me Recreation for one year beginning 

 with November number. I am, and have 

 been ever since I first saw a copy of Rec- 

 reation, an ardent admirer of your maga- 

 zine and of you and your work for the 

 protection of game. I have read other 

 magazines but I consider Recreation by 

 far the best of all. Your Gun and Ammu- 

 nition department is especially interesting. 



Walter M. Carlebach, New York City. 



Mike — Begobs! we won th' shtrike, 

 afther bein' out tin months/ 



Pat — Tin months? But phwy ain't ye 

 workin' ? 



Mike — Oh, we voted t' take a week off 

 t' cilibrate th' victory. — Exchange. 



