140 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



(Feb. 11, ML 



always consult it when about to make a trip, and Mr. 

 Haskell and his party should have done so. At best, 

 ignorance is a poor excuse, though often it is the acting 

 reason for an illegal act. Forest Stream will thank 

 Mr. Tuttle sincerely for his letter, and wish him all the 

 success in the world in appreh ending shooters who in 

 either ignorance or defiance of the law kill illegal game. 

 Montana's noble heritage is worthy of the strictest preser- 

 vation, and the means thereto cannot be too impartially 

 or too stringently enforced. 



By the Way- 



And by the way, has Rev. Dr. Thomas, of Chicago, ever 

 paid his fine for those illegal Wisconsin deer? 



A Piratical "Elk." 

 Dr. J. W. Cowan, of Geneseo, N, Y., sends m© a clip- 

 ping from the Utica (N. Y.) Globe, which he thinks merits 

 comment, and so do i. The cutting shows simply a half- 

 tone engraving, a very good one, too, of a full-grown 

 moose. Below the picture is the descriptive foot line, 

 which says, "A Bull Elk. A monarch of the forest 

 whose species is fast passing away." Now, Dr. Cowan 

 probably thought the above misnaming was funny enough 

 by itself, and so it is, but does he notice that this cut is a 

 reproduction of one of the illustrations of Mr. Madison 

 Grant's article on "The Vanishing Moose," in a recent 

 issue of the Century Magazine? Such is the case. The 

 Utica Globe "elk" is too palmated, and I trust the Century 

 Magazine will try to show that he is also too piratical. 

 Readers will remember Mr. Grant's late article in Forest 

 amd Stream, upon much the same lines as that above 

 cited. It won't hurt the daily press to take an interest in 

 outdoor sport, but it should be a healthy interest. Steal- 

 ing isn't healthy, mostly. 



jlMIsaisaippi River Crusade. 

 The crusade of the anglers against the market fishers of 

 the Mississippi River goes on bravely at La Crosse and 

 Lansing. At the former place two fishermen were ar- 

 raigned last week for violating the law four months ago. 

 At, Lansing the successful cases are even greater in 

 number, and the Lansing Rod and Gun Club is deter- 

 mined that the seining in the lakes and sloughs must be 

 stopped. The Lansing Mirror says: "We have in this 

 vicinity some of the finest fish preserves along the river 

 anywhere, and it is sheer nonsense to say that the supply 

 is not diminished by seining them at a season of the year 

 when even catching with a hook and line is not allowed. 

 Sportsmen to a man are with the club in this matter, and 

 we believe the. sentiment of a large majority of the com- 

 munity are the same. As it is, Lansing is a noted resort 

 for sport with the hook and line, but let seining be 

 stopped in this vicinity for a few years and fish would be 

 almost as plentiful hereabouts as leaves on the trees." 



E. Hough. 



90© Sbct/rity Building, Chicago. 



GAME DESTRUCTION IN MONTANA. 



The following paragraphs show two sides of the game 

 protection question in Montana, a State which to-day 

 offers as good hunting as any in the United States. The 

 men who feed deer to their hogs and chickens live along 

 the line of the Great Northern R, R. on the west side 

 of the Continental Divide. The Livingston taxidermist 

 who suggests poaching in the park, and who— Heaven 

 save the mark — is President of the Livingston Game Pro- 

 tective Society, is sufficiently well known. 



Much more encouraging is the paragraph from a gentle- 

 man living in the vicinity of the National Park, which tells 

 of the change of sentiment among people of the better class 

 living thereabouts: 



"When I tell you that parties in this 'neck of the 

 woods' kill deer and feed them to their hogs and chickens, 

 you can form some idea of the manner in which the game 

 in this part of Montana is being destroyed. One party 

 last winter fed 75 to his hogs, and report has it more than 

 that number so far this winter. Another party killed them 

 for chicken feed, and did not stop his infernal work until 

 quite late in the spring. Deer are killed here by the hun- 

 dreds every fall, and in fact at all times of the year, for 

 their hides alone. We have a so-called game warden, but 

 his chief occupation seems to consist in getting 'anchored' 

 by a comfortable fire, putting about a quart of "snake- 

 bite" under his belt, and boasting of the awful things he 

 intends to do, but never does. In the meantime the deer, 

 elk and other game are being exterminated, and no effort 

 made to stop it. 



"Not long ago Mr. Sheard, the Livingston (Montana) tax- 

 idermist, wrote a letter to a man who a year before had 

 been the winter keeper at the hotel at the Grand Canon 

 in the National Park and whom Sheard supposed this 

 year to be in the same position, telling him he "had bet- 

 ter get a bottle of strychnine and poison some of those 

 cross and silver gray foxes at the canon this winter. Their 

 hides can be sent by mail.' Sheard is president of the 

 society for the protection of game at Livingston and does 

 it more damage than any man in the country. 



"This year a poacher who has been living on the edge of 

 the Park and making short trips into it for game was 

 caught in a snowshde about the middle of January and 

 was not found for a week, so you see the Lord is on our 

 side. 



"This year sentiment] has changed greatly in all this 

 country. I now find most of the better classes about here, 

 and even the Livingston people, in full sympathy with all 

 efforts to protect the game, and consequently dead against 

 the poachers." 



Taken to Task by a Purist. 



Cold Spring Harbor, Suffolk County, N. Y., Feb. 9.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: You have done excellent 

 work in the line of stamping out such conventional phrases 

 as "speckled beauties," "finny tribes," etc. ; but lor sev- 

 eral weeks your editorial page has contained references to 

 ' 'wild game." Is there any good reason for the use of this 

 term? The two expressions quoted above are merely 

 hackneyed, but "wild" game seems to belong to such 

 forms as "the spine of my back" and "his eyesight was 

 destroyed." If there existed other spines, sight and 

 game * * *. Feed Mather. 



[We said "wild game," having in mind such enterprises 

 as Col. Mather's duckery, wherein he is breeding wild 

 ducks, which one of these days he may wish to sell as 

 Hume game, when we shall have our wild game prohibi- 

 tion law in operation.] 



VERMONT GAME. 



Putney, Vt., Feb. 5.— Editor Forest and Stream: The 

 attempt of the Vermont Fish and Game League to intro- 

 duce new feathered game should meet with approval 

 from all lovers of sport, and every one interested should 

 not fail to respond to the call for funds and to secure 

 proper protection after the game is turned Joose to shift 

 for itself. With the exception of that grand and wily bird 

 the ruffed grouse, which is found in fair numbers through- 

 out the State, we have no game birds except in a few local- 

 ities where a fair sprinkling of woodcock may be found 

 during their migration; or a few ducks may stop at some 

 of the lakes and marshes. The laws of Vermont have 

 been revised and amended till they will, in most respects, 

 compare favorably with those of other neighboring States. 

 Should success crown the efforts of the League in this at- 

 tempt, and I am sure it will if the sportsmen will tender 

 their assistance and support, there is no reason why Ver- 

 mont should not prove an attractive spot for the city 

 sportsmen, most of whom now seek places where game is 

 more abundant. 



With deer protected by law till 1900, we hear reports of 

 their increasing numbers and appearance in localities 

 where they have not been seen for many years. This is 

 surely encouraging. 



With such birds as black game, capercailzie, sharptailed 

 grouse and quail, in addition to what we have now, it 

 seems as though any sportsman could find satisfactory 

 sport within the limits of this State. I would also like to 

 see the Mongolian pheasant numbered among our game 

 birds, but perhaps it would not be advisable to try too 

 many varieties at the first attempt. 



In order to afford the greatest protection and induce 

 people to respect the laws, I know of no better method, 

 after securing proper laws, than to organize the sports- 

 men in Jevery town or city of any size into clubs. Rifle 

 clubs, trap-shooting, canoeing or yachting clubs will af- 

 ford the members many pleasant hours of sport, and such 

 organizations will change many a locality, where at pres- 

 ent the laws are disregarded, into law-abiding communi- 

 ties in this respect as well as in others. The example of 

 many who respect the laws, when organized into clubs, 

 will have greater influence upon the would-be lawbreakers 

 than if such organizations did not exist. We have had a 

 striking illustration of the above in our own town. When 

 such organizations are scattered through the principal 

 towns of Vermont then the fish and game will not suffer 

 from illegal destruction. W. E. A. 



GROUSE TRAPPING IN SOUTH DAKOTA. 



Mitchell, S. D., Jan. 31.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I have your letter wishing information about the extent 

 of the prairie chicken and quail trapping in South 

 Dakota, and about the measures which are to be put into 

 operation to stop it. The crusade against the game-hog 

 here has terminated in a warm one. But the exact 

 course that will be taken at other places such as Elkpoint 

 and Vermillion, to stop this slaughter of game has not 

 fully been decided on. 



Two years ago in Union county, some sportsman made 

 complaint and forced the sheriff to capture several barrels 

 of chickens that were at the depot, ready for shipment. 

 They were stored in the county jail. Later the sheriff 

 finds that a city and other good friends were interested in 

 this financial success, and he was induced to lose his 

 keys, They, of course, were found and at night the 

 chickens were taken over on to an island and afterwards 

 shipped. This affair was soon quieted and it was also 

 found by others that there was money made by trapping. 

 Last winter they began the work on a more extensive 

 scale. Men claimed at different towns that they could 

 beat general business and farming all to pieces by trap- 

 ping. No doubt they could from the amount of game that 

 was shipped out of this State. 



This winter the local gun club here raised quite a 

 large sum of money, to carry out the prosecution of this 

 law. They also have a committee of three on the look- 

 out, and one of its members, Mr. John Hough, went to 

 different points over the State", to try and get the sports- 

 men interested in this work. He returned to-day and 

 reported that in such places as Vermillion and Elkpoint, 

 where trapping has been carried on most extensively, he 

 could get them to do nothing. He was told by good 

 authority that there has been $7,000 worth and possibly 

 more of chickens shipped from Elkpoint this winter. 

 While there, Mr. Hough was informed by a friend that 

 if he made his business publicly known he would stand a 

 good show to be lynched. He realized what respect they 

 had for the life of a ' 'chicken" and pulled out. 



The local clubs will make the next moves after the 

 railroads and express companies. At present the work 

 will be done on the detective plan. 



It is expected that the State will take hold of the 

 matter in the way of commissioners or wardens and at 

 once stop it or at least endeavor to. H. G. Nichols. 



SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Civilities are the inheritance of sportsmen. From a 

 feeling of kinship the world over, their recognition is 

 especially sought and most heartily reciprocated. 



Apropos with such suggestions is the remissness of the 

 fraternity in our own State of New York in cordial recipro- 

 cation with our Canadian brethren, as will be seen by 

 reference to Game Laws in Brief. 



In Sec. 14 of the Ontario statutes for the protection of 

 game (Aet of 1893) there is an exhibition of graceful con- 

 descension that should have at least substantial acknowl- 

 edgment. It is provided as follows: 



Non-Residents— Sec. 14, No person not a resident or domiciled in 

 the Provinces of Ontario or Quebec shall be entitled to kill any rnoose 

 * * * or any other game animal, or bird, referred to in this act, or 

 any other bird or animal, whether protected by this act or not. without 

 having first obtained a License in that behalf, * * * the fee to be 

 paid therefor shall be $25. 



Perhaps jthe sweeping severity of the section — credita- 

 ble in a humanitarian sense — is mollified by a reference 

 published in one of the Canadian papers, calling attention 

 of foreign sportsmen to "the $25, which they may have 

 forgotten," and directed to Game Warden Stewart, who 

 is requested to make proclamation. 



The Warden published the section in a modified form, 

 limiting the slaughter but maintaining the price at the 

 same figure: "Ao person, not a residentand domiciled in 

 the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, shall be entitled to 

 hunt. take, kill, wound or destroy any moose * * * 



or any other game animal or bird, referred to in this act," 

 etc., and prescribing a license of $25 for a single season, 

 and denouncing the penalties of the* game laws of Ontario 

 against offenders. 

 The italicising above is my own. 



Now as substantial reciprocity, and as essentially neces- 

 sary to the protection of game and fish within our own 

 borders and jurisdiction, the Legislature of New York 

 could be asked, at its present session, to incorporate into 

 our game laws a section like the following: 



Any person who shall not be a citizen and resident of the United 

 States, who shall either kill, capture, wound, or pursue any wild 

 animal, wild bird, or fish, within the State of New York, the killing, 

 capture, wounding, or pursuing of which is prohibited in said State 

 during the whole or any part of the year, without having first paid to 

 the Onief Game and Fish Protector for said State the sum of twenty- 

 five dollars, and received from him. over his hand and seal, a license, 

 granting to such person for the year in which the same may be given, 

 the rights and privileges conferred UDon ths citizen residents of said 

 State in the killing, pursuit and capture of wild animals, wild birds, 

 and fish therein, shall, for each and every offense, be guilty of a mis- 

 demeanor, and be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars, to be sued for, 

 and recovered as other penalties, provided for iu Chap. 438, of the 

 laws of said State passed May 5, 1892, as amended. 



Such a statute will aid the citizens of the State in pre- 

 venting the wholesale and wanton destruction of game 

 and fish now persistently pursued by irresponsible and 

 marauding parties from the neighboring Dominion, whose 

 habitual disregard of their own protective laws is an en- 

 couragement to piracies this side .the border. 



Saint Lawrence. 



Ogdensburg, N. T. 



The Gun Testing Institution. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The names of the following gentlemen have been en- 

 rolled upon the membership list of the American Testing 

 Institution for hand firearms, etc.: J. A. H, Dressel, 

 New York city; C. H. Smith*, Sec'y B. R. and G. Club, 

 Butte, Mon.; Chas. Macalester*, South Seaville, N. J.; 

 Andre Louis Bagger*, Royal Y. Consul of Denmark, 

 Washington, D. C.; M. F. Cook, Sec'y Colt Hammerless 

 Gun Club, Hartford, Conn.; R. H. Blain, Civil Engineer, 

 Morgantown, W. Ya.; T. W. R. McRae, Sec'y Forest and 

 Stream Club, Belleville, Ont. ; E. A. Leopold*. Norristown, 

 Pa. ; J. P. Dannefelser, Gunsmith, New York city; J. Seaver 

 Page*, New York city; Horace B, Derby, Sec'y East New 

 York Trap-Shooters, Albany, N. Y.; Howard Simpson*, 

 Inspector of Rifle Practice, Wilmington, Del.; E. J. Dar- 

 lington*, Wilmington, Del.; Benj. P. Morris, Att'y at 

 Law, Long Branch, N. J.; E. S. Holmes*, Kent Scientific 

 Institution, Grand Rapids, Mich.; J. C. Clark, Sec'y 

 Kansas State Sportsmen's Association, Topeka, Kansas; 

 Browning Bros., Arms and Sporting Goods, Ogden, Utah; 

 Thomas Cumming, Cummings Point, Stamford, Conn.; C. 

 F. Bites, Pres. C. R. Gun Club, Cedar Rapids, la. 



The institution is now in operation. 



Aemin Tenner, Supt. 



* Members of the Advisory Board. 



Dexter Park (P. O. Station E), Brooklyn, N. Y. 



A New Vermont Club. 



Townshend, Vt., Jan. 30. — A Rod and Gun Club has 

 been formed in Townshend for the purpose of providing 

 better hunting and fishing in that vicinity and to enforce 

 game laws. The officers are: President, A. B. Call; 

 Vice-President, E. C. Holder; Treasurer, R. I. Holbrook; 

 Financial Secretary, Park Holland; Corresponding Secre- 

 tary, P. E. Howard; Directors, H. J. Twitchell, M. O. 

 Eddy, F. H. Lawrence. 



TO SEIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY. 



• New Yoke, Feb. 10, 1894.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 I beg to invite your attention to Assembly bill, printed 

 No. 94, a copy of which I inclose, now in the Assembly 

 Committee on Game Laws. 



I have personally appeared before the committee and 

 opposed the passage of this bill, which is a populist meas- 

 ure of the worst description under the pretense of ' home 

 rule." Not only is its constitutionality very questionable 

 but it is an outrageous attempt to apply the law of emi- 

 nent domain for the confiscation of private property with- 

 out adequate compensation. There is danger of the bill 

 being reported in some modified form which will not 

 obliterate its objectionable features, and I trust you will 

 call the attention of those interested in the enjoyment of 

 their private trout ponds to its sweeping provisions and 

 urge them without delay to write to the committee and 

 present their objections. The bill is one of the worst in- 

 troduced in the Legislature for years and ought to be 

 summarily killed. . Elbridge T. Gerry, 



Bill No. 94 is entitled "An act to permit towns to 

 acquire the title of lakes, ponds and streams, and to main- 

 tain places where the public may fish with none to molest 

 or make them afraid." Its provisions are "in brief:" 



It shall be lawful for any town to acquire or take the title to any 

 lake, pond, stream or portion of a stream in or running through the 

 town for the purpose of establishing and maintaining thereat a public 

 fishery. Twenty-five taxpayers of a town may file with the town clerk 

 an application that proceedings be instituted under this act to acquire 

 the title to a lake, pond or stream and to maintain thereat a public 

 fishery, and that a proposition be voted upon at the next town meet- 

 ing. The town clerk shall give at least ten days 1 notice. He shall pro- 

 vide a ballot box and have at the town meeting ballots to contain the 

 words "for .establishing a public fishery" or "against establishing a 

 public fishery." In case a majority of the ballots cast shall contain 

 the wwds ''for establishing a public fishery," the supervisor shall 

 proceed to acquire by pur chase from the owner the title togei her with 

 all rights therein, provided, however, that the consideration agreed 

 upon shall not exceed one thousand dollars; which lake, pond or 

 stream and all rights therein shall henceforth belong to the town; and 

 in case the water and rights cannot be obtained by agreement or the 

 consideration demanded exceeds one thousand dollars, the supervisor 

 shall acquire title thereof by the exercise of the right of eminent 

 domain. Whenever a lake, pond or stream is acquired it shall be 

 maintained as a public fishery, to which all persons shall have free 

 access for the purpose of fishing under such restrictions only as pro- 

 vided by the. game laws of the State. The supervisor of the town may 

 bring action to sustain the rights of the town in any public fishery in 

 the town. 



Committee on Fisheries and Game. 



Senate.— Harvey J. Donaldson, Ballston; John Lewis Childs, Floral 

 Park; Charles L. Guy, New York, 



Assembly — M. W. Van Amber, Castorlands; Richard Higbie, Suf- 

 folk; M. F. Smith, Greenwood; Jonathan Wyckoli, Navarino; E. G. 

 Stewart. Ithaca; Taylor J. Eldridge, North Creek; E, B. LaFetra, New 

 York; W. M. Keeuan, Troy; R. V. Stadtfeld, New York. 



