Feb. ieri805. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
129 
month in the woods hunting for deer, caribou and moose. I hoped 
so find. a piaee.where I might.be reasonably safe, but. there was.no 
Bpot not already pre-empted by sportsmen. In two days forty-two 
passed through Rangely en route to the woods. In my judgment 
the estimate that several millions of dollars were spent last.season 
in our State by residents of other States seeking health and game, 
is not excessive.; And if in the future, by wise, legislation, careful 
guardianship and reasonable appropriation's, our magnificent 
forests shall be kept replenished, that expenditure wiIU.be in- 
creased. •» . 
~ "Maine has been for the last two years more prosperous, less in- 
jured by the business depression, than any other State, I think 
that the enormous expenditure of money made there by sportsmen 
and by summer visitors may partially account for this. 
^"Private corporations owning streams in the Provinces do not 
hesitate to make large expenditures for the preservation of sal- 
mon. I think on the .Restigouche a New Fork club appropriates 
every year from five to ten thousand dollars for guarding the 
stream. A gentleman told me a while ago that on. the Tobique, 
which is a small river, they were paying four thousand dollars 
annually. Now these gentlemen do not mean to waste ..money. 
If to guard properly small streams entails so much expense and is 
a judicious appropriation of money, what can the State of Ma ine 
well afford to pay annually for the protection of the fish in twenty- 
five hundred rivers and lakes and for the game in forests into the 
center of which you might place the State of Massachusetts and 
then require a guide to find your way out over the borders? 
"I do believe in economy; but my definition of the word is a wise 
and judicious expenditure of money, not a niggardly withholding 
of that which, if properly invested, would bring large returns. I 
trust that you will ask of the Legislature only what is reasonable, 
and that they, recognizing the soundness of your judgment, will 
make favorable respoues. I am, very truly, 
WM. P. FRYE." 
. So much for the value of our fish aud game interests. A 
word now in relation to the manner of caring for the same. 
The bill before you, which is the outcome of the excellent 
recommendation of Governor Cleaves in his message of 1893, in 
which he stated, "This special and private legislation is 
accumulatiug so rapidly that I deem it proper to suggest to the 
Legislature, for consideration, the propriety of providing by 
general laws for the regulation of matters of this character." 
"^If this bill shall become a law, I feel sure tha.t not only the 
Governor, but the commission who framed it, "have builded 
Decr.er than tbey knew." So far as relates to private and 
special laws affecting the fish and game interests of the State 
are concerned, the lumbering of the statutes, while a grievance, 
no doubt, and costs time and money of members, and the State, 
is of comparatively small importance, compared with the injury 
that comes to the fish and game interests by attempting to 
control audxegulate this matter by special legislation. That 
the time taken to give attention to the demands for special 
legislation by the Legislature, and the increase in the numbers 
of acts that find their way upon our statutes, is of itself 
sufficient cause for a change in the manner of regulating the 
interests pertaining to our fish and game laws, no one familiar 
with the matter can well deny. If all the vexing questions 
could be determined better that way, it would not be wise to 
put this responsibility upon any other tribunal. 
;|But they cannot. There is great confusion now regarding 
the restrictions placed upon our waters governing fishing, ana 
no sportsman, whether in or from out of the State, is or can be, 
informed as to their general scope. He is not only in doubt 
where to fish, but is liable to be complained of^for violations 
which he has no intention of committing. The interests are so 
varied and so extensive, and of such importance, that to longer 
continue the methods of the past must prove harmful to the 
State. The attempt to meet the requirements from session to 
session has proved a failure. I mean by this that while 1 he 
commissioners have worked hard to carry out the policy of the 
State, every session brings more and more demands for regula- 
ting the fisb and game interests. This proves two things, one 
that the interests are not properly cared for, and the other that 
they are regarded of more especial value each year. This manner- 
pi dealing is not only inadequate, but absolutely harmful. How 
ever desirous the Legislature may be to treat these questions 
for the good of the State, it is at the same time impossible for 
them to fully understand the merits of each case, and we find 
that while the wishes of petitioners have been respected, and 
laws passed to protect some interest, f uture developments prove 
that behind the demand has been motives not consistent with 
gpod legislation. Private interestSj instead of public, are too 
often promoted by special legislation. Very many of these 
special laws which are supposed to be made for the better pro- 
tection of fish and game, upon examination are found to be 
only anti-trespass laws, by which many of our citizens are pro- 
hibited from fishing in certain waters while others receive the 
sole benefit of such privileges. The reason given was to protect 
the fish, the object was to keep persons off from land adjoining 
such waters. 
2: A large number of petitions are now before the Legislature 
asking for special legislation by which fishing shall be pro- 
hibited for a term of years in different waters in the State. 
Large numbers of special laws are now in force forbidding fish- 
ing upon certain waters for a term of years and in all these 
cases where the numbers of fish have been so reduced that 
these demands became necessary, it was the natural home of 
the best fish that live, fish which will, if properly dealt with, 
propagate their own species for all time. The history of special 
legislation in this line, and the hundreds of "Acts," now upon 
our statute books, are the landmarks that show what waters 
i j have been ruined for want of proper care on the part of the 
, State. And they will continue to be, until a different policy is 
. adopted. It is only a question of time, when in all parts of our 
. State, there will be generally found special Jaws forbidding fish- 
ing for a term of years. If we could have had such a law as is now 
. contemplated, ten or fifteen years ago, there would not be the 
slightest necessity of .special legislation for the protection of 
trout anil salmon, in many waters where they naturally propa- 
gate their own species, outside their spawning grounds. The 
supply, on account of illegal destruction, is slowly but surely 
giving out in man} 7 sections, sections which promised a few 
years ag;> to become the summer homes of tourists, which would 
add thrift to these localities, but must now await, we do not 
Jkuow how long, for a reproduction of these fish, once so 
abundant To the Jack of State supervision, and a resort to 
special legislation, we must attribute this loss to the State. 
The result is precisely what it is with a provideut farmer, 
who robs his rich lauds by over cropping, only to find that he 
must wait and be content with crops that will not pay, till he 
can again restore the elements of fruitfulness. How much bet- 
ter to have pursued a policj r which would have maintained the 
integrity of the soil and made it a constant source of revenue. 
The same may be said of valuable water power, the owner of 
which would neglect to repair the structure until decay or 
neglected water waste destroyed the privilege. How much 
better, in fact the only safe course, is to put this matter of such 
immense importance in the hands of a discreet and able com- 
mission, who will see to it that no loss comes from neglect, and 
that all our waters are made a constant and increasing revenue 
to our people. 
A manufacturer will keep his mills in condition to run every 
day if possible. A railroad corporation worthy of managing an 
enterprise of that kind, will not only keep their road and roll- 
ing stock up so as to do a safe and prosperous business, but will 
each year make all its property more permanent and better 
fitted for doing business. From this day out, Maine ought to 
adopt a policy that each year will add an increase of fish and 
game to her forests and waters, equal to all tlie demand by fail' 
angling and hunting. As I said, it cannot be done by special 
law. Authority must be placed in the hands of some board to 
look after these great interests and to provide for their con- 
tinuance. Being familiar with all waters it will not be difficult 
to adopt such rules governing the taking of fish at certain 
times, in certain places, as will protect the breediug grounds, 
and keep up the supply of desired localities. In this way abso- 
lute prohibition of fishing in ponds, aud in streams, outside of 
the spawning grounds would be doubtful, if ever, be needed. 
There is no danger of unduly .reducing our fish in lakes and 
ponds if only fair angliug be done in open season. The destruc- 
tion comes from illegal methods, and brook market fishing. It 
has been remarked that it is of doubtful policy for the people 
to surrender their rights to a board of three men. The rights 
of the people are not surrendered. They are simply delegated 
to have done, that which cannot be properly done otherwise. 
This is the rule in all the depaitments of the State and govern- 
ment, and it is no more a surrender of lights, than to permit a 
trial justice, the court, board of health, care of schools, man- 
agement of railroads, and other similar boards to do the bidding 
of the State under general laws which you adopt. It is the 
only feasible way to my mind that the State can wisely deal 
with this important question. 
Every two years the State looks over the doings of its ser- 
vants, and can increase, lessen, or take away the authority 
delegated, as the good of the State seems to require. 
One word touching the worst features existing touching the 
enforcement of our game laws. A;nuraber of wardens, either 
without pay, with small pay, or hired for a little time to give 
special attention to enforcing the laws have received commis- 
sions as wardens. The siuallness of the appropriation, for fish 
culture and enforcement of laws, has compelled this course. It 
has proved ineffective, aud vjry obnoxious to almost all classes. 
In order to get some fair remuneration for services, many of 
these wardens have converted themselves into spies for the pur- 
pose of securing convictions and part of the fines. In fact if 
common statements can be relied upon, many have induced 
violations, that prosecution and fines might follow. The law 
has lost the good will of many good men on this account, aud 
has become distasteful. The commission, I am informed, have 
no power, nor the State even, to terminate a commission of an 
unlawful warden, and this class of officers must remain with 
power for harm, till their commissions expire. A bill is already 
before the Legislature, which, if it becomes a law, will compel 
wardens to give bonds for the proper discharge of their duties. 
In view of this fact, and that a new departure may be adopted 
for the protection of fish and game, I submit if it would not 
be wise to pass a law, or amend the bill before you, terminating 
the commissions of all wardens. 
in view of all these facts, and also in veiw of the fact that 
petitioners from nearly three hundred towns and cities, repre- 
senting largely the business interests, and identified with the 
prosperity of the State, have petitioned this Legislature that 
these interests be placed in the hands of a commission who 
will be able to deal intelligently with all questions at issue, 
would it not be wisdom ou the part of this committee and the 
Legislature, to place upon the statute a general law which will 
better meet the requirements of the State? 
II Chinese Methods of Game Protection. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Some weeks ago it was announced in the Forest and Stream 
that an Association of Nebraska Sportsmen at Omaha had pre- 
pared a game law for introduction to the present State Legis- 
lature, and later, that a committee had been appointed to urge 
its passage. The one feature in the proposed measure which 
contradistinguishes it from good game legislation is the Chinese 
Wall which it is thereby intended to budd around the State of 
Nebraska, by means of a prohibitory shooting license for alJ 
non-residents of $50 per annum. A gun license or shooting 
license for non-residents never bars out the market shooter. 
He just moves into the State and takes up his residence there 
and never pays that license or any other license. It will never 
be collected from any non-resident sDortsman because as it is 
such a pointed insult to the non-resident of Nebraska from the 
residents of Nebraska, that no gentleman will ever go there to 
hunt. No matter how well able he may bt> to pay fifty dollars 
for the privihge of a season's shooting, he will be too 'much of 
a man to submit to robbery and imposture combined with 
insult. At such a time, too, for such a law to be proposed in 
Nebraska of all other States in this Union! Ye gods! Why 
there is a very considerable portion of that afflicted common- 
wealth that is just now on the veiy verge of starvation, that is 
being fed and clothed and warmed, to such a degree as the poor 
wretches can be, to a very large extent, by the gentlemen of 
her sister States. Corn and meal by the car load. Sewing 
societies in every community sewing and sending it there in 
boxes and barrels. Love by the ton, and sympathy without 
measure, from— not the Eastern part of Nebraska, w'here that 
law originates— at least not wholly or even in small proportion 
from there— but from this whole beloved and indissoluble 
country. Chicago, at the time of the fire; Charleston, at the 
•time of the earthquake; Johnstown, at the time of the flood; 
Nebraska, at the time of the famine, all tell us that we are one 
country. Indeed, our whole system of law tells us this, and is 
constantly trending this way and all judges of our courts of 
law and all wise legislators and law makers are so inclined. 
The judge who figures in that association is not in line with 
American jurisprudence. It is a travesty on the judicial ethics. 
Shame on the whole of them, and may their shadows grow 
lean and small in tie land! If they want to hog the hunting in 
Nebraska, Jet them stand up in the courage of their convic- 
tion, and ask the Legislature to prohibit outsiders from hunting 
in the State at auy price. That is what they are after, aud I 
must say they are the first body of sportsmen I ever heard of 
who did not go after what they wanted as if thev were sports- 
men instead of sportsmen. I wonder, will the few individual 
members of the Legislature from the famine district vote for 
this measure. 
This plau of game legislation is un-American, it is Chinese, it 
is selfish, it is brutally discourteous; but it is more than that 
The time has come wheu the States in the Mississippi must unite 
in their game legislation to protect the ducks, the geese, the 
snipe and the chickens all along the line, and the introduction 
of the game warden system all along the line for the enforce- 
ment of the spring aud fall seasons. If this is not soon accom- 
plished, good-by to the duck shooting, the goose shooting and 
the chicken shooting. If it is aone, it will all come back in all 
its old time glory and it will never leave. And just at this 
juncture, if the States begin to pass such laws as the one under 
discussion, this great scheme for the preservation of game in 
the great Valley of the Mississippi will never be perfected. 
What is wanted in all th.e States is for those sportsmen who 
come under the penultimate accentuation to have a hand in 
the passage of game laws, to the end that one system of laws 
shall prevail in one great stretch of country that happens 
thank the Lord! to be inhabited by one common brotherhood 
of men. Nobody cares much about Nebraska. TJiere are 
plenty of good pJaces elsewhere to hunt in. But the devil of it 
is that if they pass such a law, every contiguous State, out of 
mere deference to its sense of outraged friendliness, ought to 
pass laws against the citizens of Nebraska being allowed to hunt 
there, and the Jaw, when passed, ought to be simple and manly 
and to the point and read: ''Nebraska men not allowed to 
hunt in this State, especially judges." 
Come, now, you Nebraska —I mean Omaha fellers— you have 
slapped all outsiders in the face and we have come back at you. 
Let's declare an armistice and pull together on this great game 
law measure. It is deep in the heart of every sportsman in tLis 
great section of the country, and is of more moment than your 
shooting or my shooting. Don't pass the law. For if you do, 
there is not a State Legislature from here to kingdom come 
that will ever pass a law in comity with you, and the spirit 
will grow, and the first thing we know, our ducks will have 
followed the buffalo, the great auk, the Plymouth Rock bird 
and last year's corn crop in north western Nebraska. 
St. Louis, Mo. 4 GEORGE KENNEDY. 
Michigan State League"! Game Bill- 
The Tribune dispatches report from. Lansing that the State 
Fish and Game League game bill as finally agreed upon makes 
the uniform deer season irom Oct. 15 to Nov. 10, no person to 
kill more than two deer. Rabbit killing is permitted at all 
times, but squirrels can be killed only from Sep. 1 to Nov. 30, 
Spring shooting of migratory clucks is permitted. The open 
season for snipe and woodcock is from Aug. 1 to Nov. 30, and 
for quail and partridge from Oct. 15 to Oct. 30. The sale of 
quail, partridge and woodcock is prohibited. The league 
recommends that non-resident hunters be charged a license fee 
of $25. The fish bdl makes the open season for trout from May 
1 to Sep. 1, and prohibits the use of nets in all inland waters, 
including St. Mary's River, Lake St. Clair, and St. Clair and 
Detroit Rivers. Fishing through the ice is prohibited, as is 
spearing in inland waters at any time. The closed season for 
bass is from Nov. 15 to June 1. No trout less than six inches 
long nor bass less than ten inches long are to be taken, and un- 
der this size are to be handled as carefully as possible and put 
back into the water. No fishing is to be done within 100 feet of 
a fish chute, and fish in inlaud waters are to be taken only with 
hook and Jine. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
NEW FACTS. — THE "ILLINOIS G AME LAW IMBROGLIO. 
Chicago, 111., Feb. 7.— There is still trouble in Illinois, serious 
trouble. The game laws of the State are in more danger than 
ever. Warden Blow is out with anotlier bill, Still further at- 
tempts have been made, either in ignorance or in craft, against the 
welfare of the sportsmanship of the State. It ha3 been sought to 
divide that sportsmanship against itself. The eyes of the sports- 
men of Chicago and of Illinois are now opened. They have form- 
ally thrown off a friendship worse than useless, and thev are now 
out for war. Issue has been joined between the ljlinois State 
Sportsmen's Association and the State Game Warden, Chas. H. 
Blow. It has, been joined .also with, the game dealers of South 
Water street, and incidentally also with the so-called sportsmen's 
paper of Chicago which has been the champion of that warden 
and those dealers, and which has done its best, and still is doing 
it, to foist upon the people of this State a law which will open the 
market to sell Illinois game four months in the year, and the game 
of all other States, every day in the year— an equivalent to a wide- 
ope'n Chicago market the year round. 
That this preposterous doctrine could for a moment be fa vore 
by any warden or by any sportsman's paper seems at first blush 
absurd and impossible. But I will show that this is absolutely 
true, and moreover show that the attempt is still stubbornly and 
idiotically kept up. It is a spectacle for gods and.mea in the world 
of sport, and by all means the most sensational and singular pieo.R 
of sporting news that ever came out of Chicago. 
To make the entire situation clear will take some. time ana 
space, but it is worth it, and it is due the sportsmen of Rlinois 
that they have some place where their views and the views of hon- 
est sportsmanship may get a full and careful showing. 
1 would not have, it said that I am framing an attack upon the 
journal which is supporting the B low bill. That singular and 
almost incredible situation is that the fight for protection and the 
saving of this State and all the warden states from the game 
markets of Chicago includes and implies of necessity an attack 
upon that paper. When it goes over to the enemy it must be 
assailed with the enemy. Never, in all the history of journalistic 
blunders, did any newspaper ever make such a fatal blunder as 
this one. 
COMRADES. 
Much of all this was brought forward in Forest and Stream last 
week. The Forest and Stream story was brought. up to last Sun- 
day, and we will continue it from that date. 
The gentleman who purports to be the main moulder of jrahlic 
opinion on the.journaf.above referred to during the present inter- 
regnum purparts to be Mr. (jeorge Washington Strell, also Vice- 
President for the State of Illinois of the National Oi-ame, Bird and 
Fowl Protective Association. When this gentleman found that 
bis proteges, Warden Jfcilow and Warden Blow's bill, were, getting 
a bad knocking about, he, or rather they, sought the daily press 
as a means of bolstering up the bill. The Tribune of Chicago was 
already on record against this infamous Blow bill, and so the Her- 
ald, whose editor was very likely never informed of the true state 
of affairs, was chosen as the meduim. Warden Blow reprinted in 
last Sunday's HeraLd his impudent letter of challenge and rebuke 
to the Illinois State Sportsmen's Association. This letter was very 
possibly composed in the American Field office. If it was not, 
a copy of it was taken there or elsewhere before it was delivered 
to the executive committee of the Illinois State Association. It 
was the property of that body, and that bodv never authorized ite 
publication in any daily paper. Yet, as if purposely to wound and 
injure that body, it was printed and Warden Blow added to it tne 
following words in the interview he had with the Herald: 
"Game Warden Blow, author of the proposed new law which 
was handled so roughly by the executive committee of the Illinois 
Sportsmen's Association at its meeting Friday, said yesterday the 
bill would pass, and that it had received the indorsement of 95 per 
cent, of all persons interested m the protection and propagation of 
game. It had even received the approv al, the warden said, of the 
Illinois Sportsmen's Association. 
"The objection offered to the bill by a very few," continued Mr. 
Blow, "is that it docs not prohibit the shipping of game to Illinois 
from outside States during the Closed seasons. Under the law now 
in force there is some sucn provision. We may confiscate slaugh- 
tered game out of season, no matter where found, it may have 
been killed outside of Illinois and may have been in a cold storage 
warehouse two years— that makes no difference. How is such a 
law to protect Illinois game, I'd like to know? There isn't enough 
game in this State to furnish a day's supply for Chicago. Hotels 
and other establishments should be permitted to stock their lar- 
ders from other States. It makes trade for Chicago. So long as 
bh-ds beyond our jurisaiction are to be killed why sdould they not 
be brought here instead of being sent to other cities? With war- 
dens enough and a good law we will be able to protect the game in 
Illinois." 
The statement of the first paragraph about "95 per cent." is, of 
curse, untrue and absurd. The statement of the second paragraph 
I submit .with no comment whatever, except to call attention to 
the. fact that it was made by Chas. H. Blow, present AVarden of 
Illinois, 
Yet, to the defense of such statements and of such insult to the 
Hlinois association in the same column of the Sunday Herald 
comes Mr. Strell. He supports Warden Blow. 
They were comrades! 
I beg all to read the following extracts from this letter of defense 
from Comrade Strell: 
"Editor Chicago Herald: I notice in a Friday paper an item en- 
titled 'Sportsmen want a better law — They are considerably 
worked up over deficiencies in a proposed act.' Now, Mr. Editor, 
I ask only a fair hearing and a chance to combat the statements 
therein contained. Firstly, the proposed bill was published in 
circular form and distributed four months ago and suggestions 
for improvement invited; responses to the number of over 5U0 came 
from sportsmen all over the State of Illinois approving said bill 
with a few alterations, which Charles H. Blow, our State Game 
Warden, aud the best one Illinois ever had, and the framer of this 
bill, adopted. Only on Jan. 17 the directors of the fllniois State 
Sportsmen's Association met in Chicago and indorsed and recom- 
mended for passage, witn a few alterations, Game Warden Blow's 
game bill. How could this State organization indorse and recom- 
mend for passage this bill and within two weeks decide consist- 
ently to frame another? Who has worked this sleight of hand 
trick without informing Game Warden Blow? This same article 
suites the bill is in favor of South Water street, and the pothunt- 
ers. Now, as a matter o£l act, it is nothing of the kind, for it allows 
the sale of game birds killed in Illinois only five days after the 
legal open season commences and ends five days before the legal 
open season closes, thus shortening the selling season of game 
killed in Illinois, whereas the present law allows the selling to 
commence the first day of the open season (where does the stock 
come trom the first hour of the first day?), and five days after the 
ending ot the close seasi.o. 
"The penalties for selling or killing game at any other time are 
very severe, and full power is given the game warden and his 
deputies to arrest on the spot any violator. Is this in favor of 
South Water street and the pot-hunter? I have been all through 
South VVater street and every commision man interview, said he 
was m favor of and would support a law just to all citizens alike, 
but not one would support a law which opened ways and means 
for blackmail. They all say they! want to see game protected, 
otherwise their occupation, like Othello's, would soon be gone. 
Probably because they favor Game Warden Blow's bill instead of 
the present unintelligible bill is the reason for the statement that 
it favors South Water street. The item also states lawyers have 
