■250 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
March 30, 1895. 
mt{t mid jgi&h £Jrofcctwth 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Mr. C. E. liobbins, President of the North Dakota Sports- 
men s Association, has the following to say in regard to the 
new gatne law just passed: 
, Fargo, N. D., March 18, 1895,-Your telegram of the 15th 
inst. was received in due season, but, undl to-day I have not 
nad any game law information that could be considered 
reliable, as no bills that were introduced were passed, the 
legislature having been at work this winter on some new 
codes,' and the compilation committee have run things to 
suit themselves and have adopted just what pleased them with- 
out reference to the rest of the people. The result is that we 
will have a whole lot of laws that will have to be repealed at 
the next sessiou of the Legislature in 1897. Only a few of the 
present features of the present law were proposed by the North 
Dakota Sportsman's Association, althougn we presented a bill 
similar to the Minnesota law, somewhat modified to suit the 
conditions of this State, and a strong and constitutional bill in 
every particular: it was ignored and we were turned down this 
time. 
Enclosed find a clipping taken from the Bismarck Tribune, 
of March 16, which I believe to be a correct synopsis of our new 
game law. Yours truly, C. E. ROBBINS. 
The synopsis mentioned reads as below: 
A new and distinct office was created and embodied iu the 
Political code, the officer to be known as the State Game 
Warden, who is appointed by the Governor for a term of two 
years, and until his successor is appointed and qualified, and 
the bond required is $3,000, conditioned for the faithful per- 
formance of his duties. The duties of the State Game Warden 
are to superintend and aid in; the enforcement or all laws of this 
State for the preservation of game therein. He appoints 
Deputy Game Wardens, to hold office at his pleasure, as fol- 
lows: One in each county having less than 3,000 inhabitants; 
two in each county having more than 3,000 and less than 7,000 
inhabitants, and three in every other county. Each deputy 
must be an elector of the county in which he is appointed, 
For a license or permit to hunt with or without a dog during 
the open season, a non-resident must pay $25, and a resident of 
the State fifty cents. And in addition to the above, each man 
taking out a license must pay the county auditor— of whom all 
licenses are to be obtained- the sum of twenty-five cents, for 
issuing the document. A non-resident cultivating a quarter 
section or more of land in this State pays but fifty cents for a 
license. A resident may hunt on his own land without a license 
during the open season. 
For the purpose of enforcing the laws of this State for the 
protection of game (game animals and birds) the State Game 
Warden and his deputies have all the power conferred by law 
upon such constables. Upon conviction had upon the report of 
auy deputy game warden, he shall be entitled to $5, to be taxed 
and collected as a part of the costs in such a case. 
All moneys for permits or licenses are paid the county audi- 
tor, and on Nov. 1 of each year, he pays out the sums thus 
accruing as follows: One-third to the State Game Warden, and 
the other two thirds is equally divided between the deputy 
county wardens, one, two or three as the case may be. This is 
all the money the State Game Warden or his deputies receive 
for their services. 
All licenses are signed by the State Game Warden, and also 
by the deputy auditor when the same ar& issued. 
(a) Prairie chickens, grouse, woodcock, plover, wild duck, 
wdd geese or brant may be killed only between Sept. 1 to 
Dec. 1. 
(b) Buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, caribou, or mountain sheep 
may be killed only between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. 
No one shall knowingly hunt upon the enclosure or cultivated 
lauds of another without the consent of the owner, agent or 
tenant. 
No person shall have in his possession more thau twenty- 
five of the birds named in paragtaph (a) in any one dav. 
No fish or any of the birds or animals named in paragraph 
(a) and (b) can be legally shipped out of the State. 
The use of hounds or dogs in running or driving any of the 
animals named in paragraph (b) is prohibited. 
PENALTIES. 
(c) For each one of the birds named in paragraph (a) or their 
nest or eggs, shot, killed or destroyed in the closed season, the 
penalty is ten dollars; for knowingly hunting upon the enclosed 
or cultivated land of any other without legal permission, ten 
dollars for each trespass; for shooting or killing of each one of 
the animals named in paragraph (b) in the closed season, one 
hundred dollars; for the shooting and killing of each one of 
the birds named in paragraph (a) in excess of twenty-five birds 
in any one day by any one person, or for the shooting or kill- 
ing of each one of the animals named in paragraph (b) in excess 
of five in number by any one person in any one day, one hun- 
dred dollars; and for shipping and receiving for shipment each 
one of the birds or animals named in paragraph (a) and (b), or 
for each one of the fish of this State, ten dollars for each game 
bird or fish and one hundred dollars for each animal so shipped 
or received. 
Any person having in possession any of the birds and animals 
mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b). contrary to the game 
laws of this State, is liable to the same punishment or fine as for 
killing of the same. 
It would seem from the law that any person having a legal 
right to hunt and kill game animals and game birds in the open 
season can dispose of the same in our State for gain or profit, 
and may ship "the same to any part of the State without an 
affidavit. 
(d) Song birds are protected at all times, but quail are not 
protected. The use of snares, nets or poisoned grain is pro- 
hibited, to capture any of the birds named in paragraph (a). 
The use of gun traps, etc., is prohibited, to capture any of the 
game animals named in paragraph (b). Wild duck, wild 
goose and brant can be legally killed only with the gun held to 
the shoulder, and the use of artificial light, batteries, swivel 
guns, etc., is prohibited, and proper penalties are provided for 
disobeying any of the laws pertaining to the things named in 
paragrph (d). 
PISH CULT ORE. 
" The State Game Warden has nothing to do with fish. Senate 
bill No. 169 makes the State Superintendent of. Irrigation and 
Forestry ex-oificio the State Commissioner of Fish of North 
Dakota, and the stocking of the waters of the State, the pro- 
tection of the fish therein, and the entire fish culture through- 
out the commonwealth devolve upon that officer. Favorable 
provisions are made for the accomplishment of these purposes 
without expense to the State. 
New Mexico Game Law. 
Sanla Fe, N. M., March 12.— Everything has been pretty 
quiet here in the sporting line for the past few weeks. We 
succeeded in getting a new game law through the Legislature, 
which is a great improvement over the old oi e, even if not all 
we wanted. The old law was very brief, and allowed killing 
everything one could get at except in the four months of 
May, June. July and August. Deer, elk and antelope can now 
be killed only in the months of October, November and 
December, while the open season for turkey and quail is two 
months longer, running up to March 1. The shipment of game 
out of the Ten itory is forbidden at all seasons. H B H 
Maine Fish and Game Laws. 
The Maine Legislature will adjourn about next Wednesday, 
and all the questions relating- to fish aud game have been 
attended to, and the following can be regarded as the results of 
1895. 
Open time on moose, deer and caribou. October 1 to January 
1, in which time one bull moose, tw<? deer and one caribou may 
be killed by any one person. 
Parts of game may be sent b:> a licensed taxidermist under 
such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Commis- 
sioners. 
Cow and calf moose prohibited from killing at all times. 
Jack Lights, so-called, forbidden, likewise snaring or trap- 
ping; or using dogs in huutiug such game, under penalties of 
fine and imprisonment. Fine and imprisonment imposed if 
such game is killed in close time. 
Trout and salmon, open time from the first days of May to 
the first days of October, in which twenty-five pounds may be 
taken, provided, that having less than twenty-five pounds, one 
additional fish taken is not a violation of the law. Citizens of 
the State may take in the months of February, March and 
April, trout and salmon, aud carry the same to their own 
homes, and not otherwise. Winter fishing in Oxford and 
Franklin counties, forbidden. May use artificial minnows or 
insects or flies in fishing for same. 
fe Twenty-live pounds is the limit at any one time to be taken 
or in possession. Cannot be transported except with the 
owner. Woodcock, open time September first, and partridge, 
September 20. Close, December 1. 
_ A general law providing that the Commissioners have control 
of waiters, and may close such as they deem for the interest of 
the State, after public notice and hearing, and when done 
notices are placed to warn the public and recorded in town or 
plantation clerk's office. An appropriation of $35,000 annually 
was made to enforce the law, and to propagate fish. All war- 
dens are to give bonds for $2,000 for the faithful discharge of 
their duties. 
It may be said that the State has adopted a new policy, that 
of enforcing the law vigorously, and replenishing our waters 
with trout and salmon. A large number of restrictive and 
prohibitory laws have been passed on certain ponds, lakes and 
streams. The Commissioners will probably publish all general, 
and private laws in their compilation this year, so that all 
legislation may be understood. 
The State has suffered considerable loss of large game this 
season, not more than usual, however, the violators being 
market hunters, and those having lumber operations. While 
the Commissioners will bring complaints against many of them 
the game is lost. They had no funds from the close of the 
year till now this year, and hence could not pursue a vigorous 
policy of enforcement. I notice a communication in your last 
paper reflecting upon the Bangor Commissioner, which I will 
leave to him to discuss if he desires, and only say that the im- 
putation that trout (Maine trout), being sold in the market, is 
a thing I have vet to be satisfied is done in a single instance. 
Trout from the W est are iu our markets, or lake trout of 
some kind, which are of course used by any one, and are such as 
hotels put on their "fare." If our Maine trout were sold 
under cover of this fish, a stop would be put at once to the 
selling of any such fish, In fact very few Maine trout see the 
market even in open time. I have never been able to buy one 
from the market. 
The Maine Sportsmen's Fish and Game Association, wMch 
has earnestly pushed the legislation, are feeling elated over the 
results of this session of the Legislature. Every measure urged 
has been carried. CHANDLER. 
Schooners of Deer Meat. 
Dixfield, March 18.— Editor Forest and Stream: Some three 
weeus ago you published an article in Forest and Stream en- 
titled '"Schooners of Deer Mea^." Your comments on the 
Maiue Fish and Game Commissioners seem to me to be un- 
merited and hardly fair. In the past you have upheld us in 
our work, aud we have appreciated and valued your approval. 
I can but tbink your information in regard "to tbe fish and 
game sffeirs in Maine come from unreliable sources. That a 
groat many deer and other game find their way to the Boston 
market, both legally and illegally, I know. With the means 
we have how could you expect it to be otherwise? The amount 
of fines collected by us the past year amounted to several 
thousand dollars. No doubt many escaped detection. 
Can you expect us, with an appropriation of $12,000, to stop 
all the poachmg and illegal transportation of gain a aud pay 
our wardens, our own expenses, guard our salmon rivers, of 
which the Penobscot alone costs over $1,000. See to building 
our fish ways and employ a civil engineer at $5 per day, and 
expenses to survey and draft plans for same, building and sup- 
porting half a dozen hatcheries, feeding our young fry five 
months and distributing them to our numerous ponds and lakes 
iu Maine, some of them carried many miles back into the 
wilderness? Collecting or purchasing our stock of trout and 
salmon eggs? Pay lawyers for defending and prosecuting 
suits? Protect 3,000 miles of unbroken forest, filled with large 
game, and as much more outside well stocked with fish and 
game? Patrol hundreds of miles on the Provincial border, 
beside hundreds of miles of sea coast, indented with scores of 
small bays and rivers from which just such schooners as you 
sneak of can escape, and many other expenses too numerous to 
mention? ''o do all this we have an appropriation of $12,500, 
and a salary of $500 per year. 
That we have succeeded in making Maine one of the best fish 
and game preserves in the Union, none can deny. With the 
results I am more than pleased. The pay I have received for 
my services, and more with it, has gone faster than I earned it, 
and in a money point of view I am not so well oft' for being on 
the Commission as I would otherwise be, but I have the satis- 
faction of thinking of what we have done, will be of benefit to 
the State, and to the coming angler and sportsman. I am 
getting too near the allotted age of man to be expected to enjoy 
myself. Mr. Stillwell and myself were appointed on the Com- 
mission over twenty years ago. we worked together till bis 
death. He was the best friend the fish and game ever had in 
Maine, and every sportsman coming into Maine has cause to 
revere his memory. We always made it a point not' to answer 
any articles casting any insinuations on us. It is very apt to 
end in throwing mud, fi-om which nothing but harm can come. 
The State is waking up to the importance of our fish and 
game, and I think thB present Legislature will give us about 
what we have asked for. The original bill has already passed, 
legislating the present wardens out of office, giving the Com- 
missioners $1,000 a year and their expenses, putting the Land 
Agent on the Board with the present Commissioners — for the 
third. The law has passed putting a close time on cow and calf 
moose, under a penalty of $500, or imprisonment, or both, 
being discretionary with the court. Also making close time 
on partridges to Sept. 15. These are about all the changes 
there will be. Our appropriation has not yet come up. It has 
been reported favorably by the Committee— $25,000. It will 
come up this Wednesday and I think will pass. 
It looks very favorably for a good season's fishing. In many 
new ponds and lakes that have been stocked with landlocked 
salmon, they are beginning to be caught in considerable num- 
bers, which will add a great deal to our stock of angling waters. 
They are a very desirable fish, being the best for game and.the 
table, and will thrive with the pickerel and will live in warm 
water, where the trout will die. In many of our ponds they 
have been caught in four years weighing as many pounds. In 
some ponds they never grow to over that weight, while in 
others— apparently with the same conditions — they will grow 
to ten or twelve inches. In one pond one was taken last spi'ing, 
where they had been planted but six years, of twelve pounds. 
We now feed all our young fry four or five months before 
turning out. In this way they are large enough to care for and 
protect themselves. We have met with good success. Many 
new places are now coming up in which we are getting good 
fishing, and I believe in five years from now it will be better 
than to-day, if the present methods of stocking are kept up and 
the poacher can be kept out. 
There is to-day as good fishing in Maine for large fish near 
some of our cities and large towns as there is at Rangely and 
Moosehead and our lakes and' ponds, which were once* good 
trout waters, where they have been fished out, or killed out by 
the pickerel, have been stocked with salmon, and they are 
beginning to be taken out in considerable numbers. Where 
the black bass have been introduced they have thinned out the 
pickerel, and the trout are putting in an appearance. The 
bass don't seem to interfere with the trout or the salmon. 
This is true in the large ponds or lakes in Kennebec county, 
aud nearly half the area of that county is made up of lakes 
and ponds. 
The season here now bids fair to be late, we have still two 
feet of suow and excellent sleighing; there is two and a half 
feet of ice on our ponds and lakes and unless warm weather 
comes on soon, the waiting augler will not get a chance to cast 
his hook into Maine waters before the middle of May. 
When I sat down this evening I intended to write only one 
sheet, but after I got started I„did not know when to stop. If 
I have given you any information of Maine matters or anything 
of value, you are at liberty to use it. But I have had only 
time to write the preface of matters of whatmigbt be said of 
the fish and game, and its interests in Maine, and tell the truth. 
HEJSIRY O. STANLEY. 
DIXFIELD, MAINE. March 18. 
Limited Licensed Netting. 
Iu 1894 the Fish Commissioners of the Sta.te of New York 
were authorizea by the Game Law, to grant licenses for the 
netting of frost-fish, and white fish, in the inland waters of the 
State, for such a limited period and under such regulations as 
they deemed proper, and accordingly large numbers of licenses 
were granted permitting such netting between Nov. 1 and Dec. 
15,*the nets to be set only between sunrise aud sunset and 
removed each night. 
Apparently they were granted indiscrimately to all Tappli- 
cauts, and for the purposes of a test, no better course' could 
have been adopted. Of these licenses, 59 were granted for 
netting white fish in Onandaga Lake, near Syracuse. For 
years past the Anglers' Association of Syracuse had substan- 
tially prevented all netting in this lake. 
These licenses were closely watched, to some extent by a 
State Protector, and all of the time by the snecial protectors of 
said Association. Not a licensee was found having an illegally 
taken fish in his possession, though large numbers of white 
fish were taken; and only two were caught violating the regu- 
lations, by hauling their nets in the night, and these paid $30 
for their breach of trust. 
All but about three per cent, abided by the regulations. The 
Legislature is now asked to continue this system of licenses 
another year, and to permit bull heads (catfish), suckers, and 
pumpkin seeds, also to be taken with nets, by licensed netters. 
Iu this connection the following questions have occurred to 
me, and I am searching for information, from which to be able 
to arrive at the proper conclusions: 
1. Are white fish eaters of the spawn of game fish, the same 
as suckers, bull heads, and some other fish, so as to reduce the 
increase of game fish to some extent at least in addition to tha t 
resulting from the predaceous habits of so many fish? 
2. Will the reduction of the numbers of such spawning: fish, 
by netting them out. permit, or operate in favor of the increase 
of game fish in any waters? 
Having been recently appointed the chairman of the Law 
and Legislation Committee of the New York State Association 
for the Protection of Fish and Game, I am looking for light 
upon theserquestions. Ib is now too late to obtain sufficieut in- 
formation for this year, but I hope to get it so that I can act 
intelligently next year, when we shall have had another year's 
experience with licensed netting, and when the question of its 
continuance or abolition will surely come up. 
A short time since I addressed a letter to the United States 
Fish Commissioners at Washington, asking the above questions, 
and in answer thereto was answered as follows: 
"In answer to the first question, I would say that many 
fishermen claim that the white fish eat large quantities of 
spawn, but we have no evidence from observation of our own 
employees either confirming or negativing the claim. 
"In answer to the second query, it is recognized that several 
species of fresh water fishes are truly predaceous, not only 
living upon the young of other fishes, but also destroying them 
to a very large extent. To what extent fishes feed upon the 
spawn of other fishes has never been determined from actual 
observation, and tbe most that we infer has been from the 
statements of the fishermen. 
"During last year a joint commission on behalf of the United 
States and Great Britain conducted a thorough investigation as 
to the. condition of the fisheries in the Great Lakes system, and 
a part of its work comprised inquiries respecting the very sub 
ject you now bring up. The American representative, Mr. 
itathbun, who is a member of this commission, is now at work 
upon his report, which, however, owing to the extent of the 
field notes obtained, will not be completed inside of several 
months. On account of the conflicting statements regarding 
the benefits which might be expected to arise from the catch- 
ing out of greater numbers of the so-called spawn-eating fishes, 
he has as jet come to no conclusion regarding that subject. In 
nature, of course, it is taken for granted that a balance is 
always maintained between the several species of fishes so long 
as no disturbing element is brought into play." 
This goes to show that this subject has been deemed wor thy 
of consideration and investigation by an International Com- 
mission. Now, what is a disturbing element? 
It appears to me to be the means whereby the natural balance 
is destroyed or overcome. For many years the substantial 
prohibition of netting in Oneida Lake has permitted bull heads 
to multiply by millions upon millions, and they are probably 
the worst spawn eaters in existence. They have acquired the 
ascendancy m that lake over the game fish; more bull heads 
than bass, 6 to 1, were caught last summer by angling upon 
the stone bars, the natural grounds for bass, for they had 
driven the bass away and taken possession and were therefore 
a disturbing element. 
Before netting was prohibited entirely in that lake, hundreds 
of thousands of suckers were taken each year in the early 
spring in the shoal waters at the mouth of the Onieda Itiver at 
the foot of the lake, which had run up on to that fine gravel 
bottom to spawn; but it was a rare thing to catch a rock bass 
or perch and it was too early for game fish to run up there to 
spawn; but when they did run up the grounds swarmed 
with suckers and bull heads. These suckers have multiplied 
under protection, by millions, until now no game fish spawn 
thei"e, so that the suckers have become a disturbing element. 
These facts are within my personal knowledge, resulting 
from my personal inquiries and investigations conducted dur- 
ing several years past. I have written this article for the pur- 
pose of opening a full and free discussion through the columns 
of Forest and Stream, and I request that every person w r ho can 
give any information, facts, or ideas in the affirmative or 
negative, bearing upon the two questions, will send them in for 
publication, for the benefit of sportsmen and for my personal 
benefit, in order that in 1896 I can act intelligently in deciding 
whether limited licensed netting shall be continued or not. 
In the meantime during 1895, let each and every person and 
association in this State watch the licensed netters, and get all 
