Feb. 2, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



turbed during the breeding season tot the past two yea 

 also advocated a special Sunday law to arrest t$$ depreda- 

 tions of marauders who come oyer the State, line and violate 



the law on Sunday, when a process could not be served, and 

 .■i-uin hy Monday morning. 



Sagic aw, uioved tlie appointment of a 

 ibmmittee of three to recommend abonutv tariff upon the 

 BeadA Of foxes, wiiil i afs. skunks, owls and hawks, auxiliarv 

 em -d hyr.ho bounties adopted by this associa- 

 tion. Carried, and Messrs. Greenwood, Roney and Holly 

 iointed as such committee. On motion the President 

 -nlde.l .fr^' ■;,. Ai.io-c, I Greenwood and Keeney to the euforco- 



;.!. Mershon spoke hi severe terms of lumbermen who 

 hire men ro shorn deer at illegal seasons, with which to supply 

 t.hi-ir lumber camps. 



After some further discussion the meeting adjourned until 

 7 r. m. 



II -.sow EVENING SESSION. 



Meeting calleil to order by the President and minutes of 

 previous meeting read and approved. 



The committee on a State bounty tariff on the heads of 

 predatory birds and animals made a report, recommending 

 bounties' as follows: Foxes, $1; wildcats, 81; skunks, 50b; 

 lawks, 35c; owls, ■".:.'. e Anxiliarv clubs in offering bounties to 

 be bound by those adopted by the .State Association. 



The report of the committee was adopted as read. 



By request ol the association the President then read his 

 retiring address as iollows: 



PRESIDENT HOLMES' ADDRESS. 

 The wheels of time, rolling on the cycle of life, have bi ought 

 us to another — the seventh — anniversary of the Michigan 

 Sportsmen's Association. Those pleasant reunions afford a 

 fitting opportunity for reviewing the past, as well as for 

 mapping out o<:-v. I to he done. [ therefore ask your 



attention to a hastily written retrospect, and a few sugg'ea- 

 tions. From its inception, the objects of this organizai i< • i hav e 

 Been the increase oJ cheap sea healthful food for the .people, 

 .and of inducements to manly and innocent recreations, the 

 better acquaintance with the natural history and correct 

 game animals of the earth, air and water, and the 

 popularizing of field sports. These are worthy objects. Ail 



elates of community that desire the well-being of man, can. 



and should unite with us in our beneficent work. We en- 

 deavor to prevent wrong-doing arid crime by filling up our 

 leisiuv with innocent health-giving and honorable sports. 

 Keep the mind pre-occupied with good thoughts and evil will 

 never enter. 



We endeavor bo pp terve bodily health and vigor by taking 

 occasional doses of open air exercise and invigorating sporting 

 ■ y u ■si a ad , in I aths \ sound mind in a sound body is 

 the perfection oi manhood. We endeavor to continue and 

 >■-■■■ lie Bupplyof the cheap and healthful food derived 



from wild game- by preventing their destruction or molesta- 

 tiou during .their breeding and rearing seasons. We wish to 

 adopt the same rules in regard to our Wild game of fur, fin 

 and feather that the intelligent and thrify stock-grower and 

 herder would apply to his dock-* and herds": so that they may 

 constantly incr.-as ■ sv i How liberal drafts to V- made from 

 them at prop when their flesh is ittits best condition 



for food. We endeavor by obedience to the laws, and strict 

 respect for the rights of others to teach land-owners and every 

 one, else that there is as much difference between sportsmen 

 and poacher, as there is between gentlemen and tramps. A 

 man should not be condemned at sight because he- is in a field 

 with dog and gun, or by the stream or on the lake with rod 

 and reel. In short, we endeavor to make it here as it is in the 

 mother country, that when a person is out in the dress and 

 ■with the paraphernalia of a sportsman, it is prima facie 

 evidence that he is an honorable gentleman. 



It is natural and pertinent on this occasion to ask, Have 

 these endeavors been realized? Have our efforts been success- 

 ful.- Have we accomplished the objects of our organization, 

 at least — to use an Americanism — enough to make it pay for 

 the time and money expended? Without presenting a review 

 of the work done during the seven years of our existence as an 

 association, I think 1 can safely answer these questions in the 

 affirmative. Nor do I forget* the powerful influence of the 

 Forest and Stream and other journals in the work we 

 have been engaged in. They have helped to mold public opin- 

 ion, and to secure the enactment of better laws and more gen- 

 eral obedience to those laws. Yet the influence of these, papers 

 is largely due, to this association, for have we not increased 

 their circulation by a large number? While our efforts to 

 secure desired amendments to our game and fish laws have 

 not. been entirely successful, I think the laws of to-day are a 

 great improvement on those of seven years ago, yet in several 

 respects they are still quite defective, and it is probable that our 

 next Legislature will be asked to give the subject careful consid- 

 eration and remedy at least some of those, defects. I think it 

 Would be proper to discuss the fish and game laws thoroughly 

 at this session, so that the. people from and by whom the next 

 Legislature will he chosen may be educated as to such changes 

 as are desirable. 



ft is a matter of serious regret and great, annoyance that tho 

 laws governing contiguous territory are not more uniform. 

 An effort was marie last year to secure harmony between our 

 laws and those of Wisconsin, but without success. I hope it 

 will be continued until the desired uniformity is secured, for 

 it is not possible now to enforce the law contiguous to the line 

 dividing these commonwealths. 



Some ten years ago the indomitable enterprise of the la- 

 mented William F. Parker, editor and proprietor of the Amer- 

 irrn, SJpoWs/)i 'in. seen red the organization cd a National Sports- 

 men's Association, which accomplished avast amount of food. 

 But it was in advance of the times, the general public was not 

 "sufficiently educated in matters pertaihg to game protection 

 and sportsmanship to appreciate and sustain it. And when 

 its originator was called from this world of toil and care to 

 bright.-.,- fields and streams above, the. National Association 

 lost so much it could not live, if there i stich an prganlza- 

 tion now there would be ample opportunity Eor sportsmen 

 from the. different tf tides to '"-on for toy- her and secure the de- 

 sired uniformity of Ita - 



The Lint- seems cow to havi an ived when a national or an 

 American sportsmen's association is needed, and would be 

 . and be eminently useful. I therefore suggest that 

 it would be well Eor the Michigan Sportsmen's Association at 

 this session to take such action as may be thought advisable 

 to call a convention composed of delegates from the States 



and Provinces, for the empo-, . i o; ■■".- my an American 



Sportsmen's . - aationpi bo esuscitate theold one, 



But, gentlemen, notwithstanding our iaws are not quite as 

 giej Should be, sod sve sh'quld relaa our efforts to get them as 

 nearly perfect as possible, yet, if the laws, imperfect as the v 

 are, were strictly obeyed, nur forests and fields, and lakes and 

 streams would lie filled with game. So that the real problem 

 before us to day is: How can we enforce the gameand Ssb 

 laws— or, as I would prefer to put it— how can we secure 

 respect for and obedience to the laws:' While 1 desiri D :>.'. 

 all the reports, papers, subjects and questions brriLiyhf before 

 you at fins session f Lilly discussed. 1 am especially anxious 

 that this problem of enforcement should receive ail the. time 

 and attention necessary i ■ .r r, - ■.: , .,>.-, Vfiii, a view of mak- 

 ing this the principal business "f ilii- -i-s.-ion. I t.,T j eat Slied 

 the standing committee No. i With tv ■ ■[ oi'esenta- 



tive men from eight different pun- of thi State hoi .1 to 

 secure papers and opinions from ■ ■;, . f "if vs. ,", 

 and place,- to ' ' ■ .,..1 -iriclently hi 'the 



■ ' biaj p . ourpresidinj 1 1 



indue e your ,..,., ,, .... lln t . social inn, 1.1, ..■ 



3 business and execute your orders. Rut 1 beg you 



ie to make two or three suggestions on tin 



The thing of first importance is n, code of simple and equit- 

 able laws that will command the respect of all order-loving 

 and law-abiding citizens that have given this subject sufficient 

 attention to enable them to think intelligently on the subject. 

 11 is very difficult to secure respect for or the. enforcement of 

 amend themselves to tiie good sense of th 



ill 



ido 



>d Hies 



so in the main, the" u 

 secure the services of 

 will devote his whole t 



people 



other 

 ell othi 

 id unc 

 iBinte, 



Again, sportsmen and g 

 ibpTe, cannot all think alike. 



xt best 

 1 good, ( 



nd att, 



But 



utile; 



a code of laws that 

 support. Haying 

 have already done 

 1 Can .-nygest, is to 

 , earnest' man. who 



State. We 



Bd by the G 

 a's Association, and 

 as we have no such 

 a fund by subscrip- 

 :hs or a year, as an 

 I would have h 



ind wi 

 .light ( 



actasmissionsry and detective all o 

 have an independent State officer, ; 

 on the nomination of the State Sp 

 paid by the State, to do this worl 

 provision of law, 1 am in favor of 

 tion and hiring' a missionary for si 

 experiment, to give light to the Gi 



give especial attention to those parts of the State where, there 

 are no game-protection clubs, organize clubs where there are 

 none, and wake Up the old ones— not so much for the enforce- 

 ment of the game laws, as to the importance of obedience to 

 1 hern, because they are good. Secure the co-operation of all 

 classes, especially the. fanners and landowners, 1 earl; et men 

 and common carriers. I am satisfied that one good man 

 devoting Ids whole time to this work could do more good in 

 six mouths than could be done in any other wary. 1 therefore 

 respectfully ask your careful consideration of tin's subject. 



In taking leave of the official position which vour partiality 

 has so long kept me in, as T desire to at flic close of this -c:> 

 sion.l wish to assure vou of mv continued interest in the objects 

 for the- promotion of which this association was organized 

 shall continue to use what little influence and ability : have to 

 finish the good work you have so wed begun, arid 1" ask for 

 your future presiding officers the same consideration and cor- 

 dial support you have so generously given to me. [Applause.] 



BEPOBT OF COMMITTEE ON PISH LAWS. 



Dr. Parker, of the Committee on Fish Laws, including 

 propagation as well as protection, reported verbally that the 

 Fish Commission were able to procure only about 15,000,000 

 eggs, owing to a severe storm which set in early, instead of 

 •31000,000 to SO, 000, 000 as they expected. They have now at 

 the hatchery in Detroit, about 20,01)0,000 eggs which promise to 

 do nicely; also at the new hatchery, established at Paris the 

 past summer, about 500,000 brook trout eggs which Supt. 

 Portman says are looking finely. The Commission have also 

 received about : J .,000 carp from. Washington, which are to be 

 distributed in the spring. Some advance was also made by 

 Supt. Portman last year in collecting and hatching black 

 bass, and it was expected that next spring he would be able 

 to furnish a quantity of these fine fish for our inland lakes. 

 They had decided to discontinue the planting of whiteffsh in 

 inland lakes, except in waters where they naturally exist, as 

 Higgins' Lake, for instance, for the. reason that they never 

 come, to the surface. Many streams had been stocked with 

 eels, but no more would be planted until it was decided that 

 they propagate themselves. The hatchery at Pokagon lacked 

 sufficient water and was consequently moved to Paris on the 

 Grand Rapids and Indiana R. R., where a most excellent 

 place was found, and next year they expected to turn out 

 1,000,000 brook trout. 



KEPOET OP THE TT. S. FISH COMMISSION. 



Mr. Clark reported for the Michigan branch of the United 

 States Fish Commission that they had in then- hatching house 

 at Northville a year ago 14,500,000 eggs, 'and this year had 

 about 22,500,000 eggs. About 1,600,000 of those were shipped 

 away to other countries for other kinds of eggs we have not 

 here. They have also at Northville about 200,000 brook trout 

 eggs. The' commission are giving especial attention to the 

 breeding of California trout by budding larger ponds and 

 more of them, and intend in time to have fish enough there to 

 get at least 5,000,000 of eggs per year. 



In addition to the California trout there, the speaker got 

 50,000 more from California, all to be kept at rJorthvdle un- 

 disturbed for breeding purposes. At two years old they ex- 

 Ecct to have 25,000 fish, and they intend to make that the 

 eadquarters for the California trout work of the commission. 

 He expected that in five or ten years Michigan would have 

 California trout in her streams, more plentiful than- eels are 

 now. 



Referring to the question of prosecuting settlers who kill 

 game out of season for their own use, the President said 

 he had never heard but one opinion expressed, viz: that 

 there was not a member of this association who would 

 prosecute them or countenance such a proceeding when it 

 was done to furnish food for their f amides; but he would 

 prosecute to the bitter end men who caught live deer on the 

 snow crust and tied them up in barns to die, or kil led game in 

 any other illegal way or time, except for the necessities of 

 themselves or families. 



Prof. Roney said the association had repeatedly put itself 

 upon record as holding similar views as those just expressed 

 by the President, and thought there was not a member who 

 held a contrary opinion. 



Mr. Ball, of Midland, objected to the clause " capturing in 

 water " in the present law protecting deer, inasmuch as a mor- 

 tally wounded deer will often go into a lake and he down in 

 the buUrushes or on an island, and according to the letter of 

 the law he must be left there. He thought wounded deer 

 should be captured in any reasonable way rather than escape 

 to suffer and die. 



President Holmes thought Mr. Ball construed the law too 

 literally. He understood it to mean the deer shoidd not bi 



1 that tec hi 



■a! v 



iolations ( 



if th 



est 



jool or sv, 



ramp 





rdict Of 



■tube 



3 wl 



old insist 



d th 

 upoi 



killed in the water, and it was intended to -prevent the killincr 



of deer in deep water fro 



them. He also thought tin 



improved. Prof. Boney si 



of the association, that the 



be stricken out for the reas 



law, such as killing a deer in the shalli 



Wpuld be relentlessly prosecuted, and 



rendered against a law-abidina 



spirit of the law, by a mossback jury wl 



the strict letter of the law in such a case, though being flagrant 



law violators themselves, in proof of which lie cited cases 



that had occurred the past fall. 



Considerable further discussion was had, touching this defect 

 in the statute: and while ail agreed as to the probable inten- 

 tion of the Legislature, the general opinion was: that the law 

 shotdd be so amended that it could not be taken advantage of 

 by malicious persons to prosecute sportsmen in cases of merely 

 technical violations. 



Mr. R. J. Birney, of Sarinaw, reported that one man at 

 Manistee Lake, had. during the past summer, killed 108 deer, 

 contrary to law, and requested that the matter be looked into. 



The President suggested a Michigan field Trial of hunting 

 dogs-, to be held under the auspick-s of the association. Messj s. 

 Brown & Ward, jewelers, of East Saginaw, offered to donate 

 y2o in a medal or in mone^-. - L ,-..-.:. i- a held trial, and puarah- 

 teed to raise .ss.,0 for that'..! beet, if snob trial was held near 

 this city. The subject was generally discussed and approved, 

 if a suitable locality could' be found where the birds were 

 plenty. 



Prof. Roney. chairman of the pubhskihg committee, then 

 read a report' shoe, ii, . ;.| L .;. >..lr. ■■■■ .',. e nay ■• lied o. ocurfed tfae 

 publi iati i .. ' ' ■■■ bpies >i flu osso aation's fourth annual 

 hook of 110 pay.- ,.,,, , - 3 p iceedings in full of the last 

 annual meeting »1 Lansing, .-.-one laws, etc., and that the 

 advertisements therein had more than paid th i 

 same. The report showed the disposition made of the hooks. 



which were sent to responsible persons for gratuitous distribu- 

 tion in localities as follows: 



Northviffe 



Eatoh Rapids 



Monroe 



liist Tawas 



.0 zoo. . 



Kola: 



Owasso 



St. Joluis 



(fraud Haven.. 



La 11 sine 



Erie 



Roscommon 



Port Huron 



sit. Louis 



Evart 



Ohe 



IS Traverse City :25 



Vi Hastings 30 



18 M.t. Olemens 80 



hi Saginaw City 30 



12 tdint ." SO 



12 Howell BO 



15 Grand Rapids and Western 



20 Michigan 500 



50 Sent to sportsmen s papers in 



Km 



UNI Ul.io.,] Sears. L-,.; 



WO Great Britain 



•A\-, On hand. 

 25 



1 en 



3,600 



The following is an extract from the publishing committee's 

 report: 



"Your committee have also compiled a large list of names 

 of sportsmen, game protectionists and fishculturists in Miehi- 

 gan, all properly registered in an indexed book, by towns. 

 This will be a valuable help in the distribution of the associ- 

 ation's publications, and we desire the personal assistance of 

 " this 'association in augmenting this list to 



the largest possible number. Names of members and officers 

 of clubs as well as individual sportsmen not members of clubs, 

 are earn si 1 y solicited, and should be sent to the present sec- 

 retary. W. B. Mershon, East Saginaw. Tour com m ittee are 

 gratified to report that they were able this year to furnish a 

 copy of our annual book to the edttor of each newspaper in 

 the >Ste t ■.• of Mich igan, as shown by the above report. The ob- 

 ject of this was to show the association in its true light, as an 

 organization working for the good of all classes of citizens, and 

 to disabuse the public min d of an}- prejudices which might 

 exist concerning its purposes. To this end wc sought the 

 valued influence of the press of the State, particularly the 

 papers in the northern game sections, which are so effective 

 in molding public opiuion in then- respective localities, and 

 the highly complimentary and discriminative notices already 

 received In return for the* copy of our proceedings sent, show 

 that the leaven is working and that an earnest game protec- 

 tion sentiment throughout the entire State is only a matter of 

 time." Respectfully submitted, 



H. B. Roney, 

 Wm. B. Mershon, 



Pubhsliing Committee. 

 On motion adjourned until o'clock to-morrow morning. 



THREE DAYS ON BRUIN'S TRAIL. 



HAVING a few days of spare time last fall, I thought 

 I could occupy them in no better way than in a hunt. 

 So taking my rifle and a large 30-lbs. bear trap, two good dogs 

 and two Indians, as good as the McCloud River tribe affords, I 

 started bright and early one Monday morning and set out for 

 a point where I had often been before. This was up the 

 McCloud River, about fifteen miles from the United States 

 trout ponds. "YVe arrived there all safely in time to kill a 

 good, fat, four-pointed buck for camp meat, to pitch our tent: 

 and to set our bear trap. I set the trap at the foot of a large 

 sugar-pine tree, using -for the fastening a large, heavy polo, 

 over which I slipped the large ring of the chain, and then 

 splitting- the pole, wedged it, as I supposed, perfectly secure. 

 Then piling up limbs and logs on either side of the trap, wo 

 batted it with pants of the fresh deer. 



Then next, morning, starting very early and going to our 

 trap, we found to our surprise that our trap was gone. 

 Looking around very carefully for a short time, we found 

 that a very large bear (at least we supposed it to be very 

 large by the track) had been there through the night, had got 

 into the trap, and being so large and powerful had worked 

 the wedge out of the end of the pole, and hadmadc away 

 with trap and all. Consulting with the two Indians, I found 

 that they were very much excited over it, and also very 

 anxious "to follow up old Bruin and get the trap back, to- 

 gether with his skin. So taking our two dogs we started on 

 the track, and as the Indians are very good at tracking we 

 had no trouble in following, hut could travel as fast as the 

 roughness of the mountains would allow ; we went on and 

 oh, thinking we might perhaps come up with him at any 

 time; but after (he first six or eight miles we found that the 

 bear was leading through a very rough country, down 

 through deep canyons, if: rough the thick brush and over 

 rocky points, where one would think it almost impossible for 

 a free bear to go, much less one carrying that trap. We saw 

 a large number of deer through the day, but dM no shooting, 

 as we were going away from camp all the time, find had no 

 time to bother with them. 



Wc kept on traveling, not noticing the time of the. day un- 

 til wc discovered that it, was nearly night; and yet no partic- 

 ular signs of coming up with our game, as the track w r as 

 dry, and looked as if the bear was some hours ahead then. 

 So, as we were then so far from camp, and bound not to be 

 fooled in that way if possible, we concluded, if we saw any 

 wore deer, to kill one, and then go to camp for the night. 

 We had gone but a few more hundred yards, after this reso- 

 lution, before we came in sight of a band of four nice deer, 

 Singling out the smallest one, I fired, and at the crack of the 

 gun the deer fell. So we wciy- fixed for plenty of good veni- 

 son: but venison it was, and "straight" at that, for wc had 

 neither sail nor pepper. We soon bad 3 2001] fire, as wood 

 was plenty, ami began roasting the venison, and never did 

 delicacies taste better than did tint vuniww (hat night to ur 

 tired huiiurs. Tiieii j .;,].- the trt ijlile 1 bi ' -I lepjng, Wc 

 had no blankets, :tnd wore very little clothing. Tlic rocks 

 and brush were so thick that it was nearly impossible to rind 

 a. place to lie down, out we kept close to the iiiv. Our 

 dreams were somewhat disturb) d >•', the hoi -• gTOVi is Of the 

 California lions, wild cats and catamounts, as they passed by 

 the camp light, but we kept a good 5re all night, and finally 

 suc:yed;'d \u wlnbcgawaN th long drc:ii fours ttuttl day 

 break. 



Roasting a little h .' I'l oi on, we made out a hreriktYiSt, 



fed our (Jogs, and again started oh the track. After traveling 

 a few miles ii Id us into a thick brushy canyon, where it 

 li :u-lv impossible to crawl through, and in' there wc cx- 

 p ctcd to come up with him, as we thought he would surely 

 gat (lie trap fast iu the. brush. -o we traveled very slowly - , 

 keeping a sharp lhohout for him. M'icr traveling -• tie 

 rs.ilc-, we f ;o-.-( ,1 the In !iy c iiiyon and came ontf again into 

 more open traveling The track set Med "* look a link more 

 fresh: and, to r!l appearances, the oil is .-idi- 



abiy ivi'reslied too, for hi -Isrlcd Out of llicie nl : , g ,;,., 



pace. 1)1 I big more in a cjn ''- bu trial did 



not 1c:k1 u-. . □ auicl] UM ay from oamp b wai th 



two o'clock in the afternoon bu th sign h ing lues'iier] 



the Todieir- ,-pirir- .-cum d to revivo, and on Ave wehl 



