THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN. 



53 



the bill which prohibits the sale of all game, 

 because both bills were one. Now, hunt- 

 ers can shoot only from the loth to the 25th 

 of April certain kinds of waterfowl and 

 only 15 in one day. I think we will be 

 strong enough to kill or amend that section 

 next year. If Illinois would prohibit 

 spring shooting, it would be easy for us to 

 do so. That gives the "shooters," as I call 

 them, an argument. It is too bad we can 

 not have a uniform or government law for 

 waterfowl. 



We protect all kinds of birds, except 

 sparrows, hawks, crows and blackbirds. 



About the settlers : Senator Morgan, of 

 Minnesota, has said, "They need meat." I 

 agree with him; but I would not let them 

 think they can kill a deer every day. 

 I enforce the law strictly, but make friends 

 at the same time. A few game hogs and 

 market fishermen don't like me very much. 

 I never let a man go if he violates the law. 

 It makes no difference to me who the viola- 

 tor is ; but after I get him it makes a big 

 difference to me if he is rich or poor, a 

 farmer's boy or a pot hunter. If he is a poor 

 farmer's boy or a settler who kills only 

 some game for food for his own family and 

 needs it, I am ready to make a motion my- 

 self to the court to suspend the fine or a 

 part of it and to let him pay the costs, 

 which are generally only $1 to $2, because 

 I never charge a cent for fees if a man is 

 poor. If a man shoots for the market, or 

 if he is rich and thinks the laws are made 

 only for the poor, I let him pay the highest 

 fine. We never make it public that a fine 

 is remitted. 



The sentiment among the people has 

 changed. Only 2 or 3 years ago, when a 

 warden went up in our Northern woods, 

 the people there looked on him as an en- 

 emy and in some places we could not get a 

 meal. Now we are welcomed by the same 

 people and they assist us in our hard work. 



The Wisconsin Game Protective Associa- 

 tion, a local organization, has also done 

 good work in aiding to enact good laws 

 and enforce them. 



According to the official report of the 

 State game warden, we received last year 

 from resident hunters, $78,164; from non- 

 resident hunters, license for small game, 

 at $10, $2,980; and from non-resident hunt- 

 ers license for small game and deer, $9,025 ; 

 for set-lines in certain waters and tags for 

 same, $500; total, $90,669. 



For trespassing on State lands, $3,164.01; 

 330 arrests were made and the fines amount- 

 ed to $4,285 ; for seizure of game and fish, 

 $2,877.56. 



Thus our department for game protection 

 is self-supporting, and gives a large income 

 to the taxpayers in our State. 



Valentine Raeth, 

 State Deputy Game Warden and Delegate. 



MINNESOTA DIVISION. 



This Division of the League has grown 

 steadily during the last year. Our mem- 

 bership is now about 650. Our influence 

 extends over the whole State and is grow- 

 ing stronger. Our efforts have been prin- 

 cipally directed toward harmony with the 

 State Fish and Game Commission, to whom 

 we report violations of law that come to 

 our knowledge, knowing that such cases 

 will be pushed, if the evidence is sufficient. 

 I have, however, paid one reward of $5 for 

 a conviction secured through our Heron 

 Lake chapter. 



The opinion is now quite general that 

 there ought to be a close season on gray 

 squirrels and on rabbits. There are still 

 too many gunners who, on cloudy days, can 

 not distinguish quails or grouse from rab- 

 bits, so we intend to help them with a little 

 more law and a little more Fullerton be- 

 hind it. 



From personal contact with people in the 

 country, I can say that they are well pleased 

 with our game laws, and with the part the 

 League has taken in securing them and 

 helping to have them enforced. 



D. Lange, Chief Warden L. A. S. 



A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR LOVERS OF NA- 

 TURE. 



The name of Col. Joseph H. McDermott, 

 of Morgantown, W. Va., has been add-ed to 

 the list of prominent men who are life mem- 

 bers of the League. Colonel McDermott, 

 though but 33 years of age, has already 

 gained for himself an enviable reputation 

 as a man of sound character, substantial 

 and progressive in business, a thorough 

 sportsman and a good fellow. 



For the past 8 or 10 years his business 

 has kept him from enjoying outdoor sports, 

 though he owns a number of fine guns and 

 other paraphernalia, in the possession of 

 which only a true sportsman can find pleas- 

 ure. He has always taken an active and 

 effective interest in the preservation of game 

 and. fish and of all harmless wild life. In 

 1898 he was the moving spirit in the forma- 

 tion of the Monongalia County Game and 

 Fish Protective Association. This organi- 

 zation did good work, and mainly through 

 Colonel McDermott's unselfish and tireless 

 efforts kept at it till 1901 when nearly all 

 the members joined the League and estab- 

 lished a local chapter. He is still a mem- 

 ber of that Chapter and will be such to the 

 end of his life. 



Jiggs — His song made me sick. 

 Wiggs — What was it? 

 Jiggs — "Rocked in the Cradle of the 

 Deep." — Chicago News. 



