148 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
fpEB. 19, i8q8. 
As to rabbits being in danger of being reduced to an 
alarming extent by foxes, that is the veriest nonsense. 
In this town, Avhich is one of the towns in this State 
in which foxes have never been trapped, the fox is quite 
plentiful, and every swamp is full of rabbitSj owing to 
tlieir not being hunted to any extent. From ttiese facts 
any honest, thinking man caa dedlftt his own conclii- 
sions. 
Viewing the question from a different standpoint, the 
fox is one of the wisest provisions in the whole economy 
of Mother Nature, as a means of keeping mice and cer- 
tain kinds of insects in check. It is a well-known fact 
that the principal food of the fox is the field mouse, and 
that where the mouse i^ plentiful there w-ill the fox be 
found in good numbers until the mice are caught off, 
when the fox moves to new pastures. The destruction 
of the coyote in certain sections of the Northwest has 
been folknved by a plague of jack rabbits, and in Mani- 
toba by a plague of gophers, or ground squirrels, and 
there is no doubt that the extermination of the fox would 
be attended by disastrous results, owing to the increase 
of mice and other pests. The worst natural enemies of 
the grouse are the great horned owl and the Ainerican 
goshaw^k, of which latter bird there has been an un- 
usually large flight the past season. 
It can be only the most pitiable selfishness which can 
induce any one to think that because one class of sports- 
men are supposedly more numerous than those of an- 
other class, the smaller class has no rights which the 
larger class is bound to respect. I think that all fair- 
minded sportsmen will agree with me that the fox hunters 
as a class are as worthy of consideration as any other 
class. WlLLAKO H. SULL.1VAN. 
Winter Convention, Illinois State 
Association* 
Peohia, III., Feb. 9. — To stBJj froni the Intetstate War- 
dens' Convention of yesterday and the day previous to 
the winter convention of the Illinois State Sportsmen's 
Association at Peoria to-day was something like step- 
ping from the nineteenth century back into the dark ages. 
This is the first time in the history- of the Illinois State 
Association that the convention has come out flat-footed 
for spring shooting, has fought every movement looking 
toward stopping spring shooting, and has looked grudg- 
inglj' on such measures as Avoiild tend to limit the bag 
of game for any one day. Ordinarily Ave have at least 
resolved against spring shooting, but this time we didn't 
even resolve against it. 
The State of Illinois, in so far as the State Sports- 
men's Association is concerned, is cut into two sections. 
The upper third is not in favor of spring shooting, and 
has usually stood for strict game laws. The central and 
loAver parts of the State are strong for spring shooting. 
Attending a convention at Peoria, in central Illinois, is 
like going outside of the State, so far as similarity to 
the Adews of the upper part of the Slate is concerned. 
The representation in the convention to-day Avas practi- 
cally one from the central and loAver portions of the 
State; hence the apparently contradictory action of the 
organization. Yet it should be said that the men from 
these lower sections are yery frank and outspoken in 
their Avishes, leaA'ing nothing in doubt as to their in- 
tentions, and of course it shotild be understood that it is 
no new condition Avhich has been discoA^ered. There 
is no more hard feeling among the members from differ- 
ent parts of the State than there has ever been. On the 
c|uestion of spring shooting the Association has simply 
agreed to disagree. Barring certain Avild schemes 
Avhich the State Legislature Avill take care of very 
promptl}' when it gets around that far, the action of the 
convention may be said to indicate a certain progress in 
the ideas of game protection, though certainly not a prog- 
ress such as that shoAvn by the men who met at the war- 
dens' convention this week in Chicago. There was a little 
less of the customary sweeping resolutions and a little 
greater indication of a possible later action upon some 
of the resolutions adopted. Let us say, then, that the 
great State of Illinois, Avith its double climate, .its A^ary- 
in,g conditions, is still in the dark ages of protectiA'^e work, 
but not nearly so far back in them as it was some years 
ago. 
Summary of the Sense. 
The sense of the meeting Avas taken by resolutions of- 
fered upon all the dift'erent questions of a list prepared 
;md sent out among the members of the association, the 
answers being tabulated and further enforced by the dis- 
cussion on and vote of the meeting. Thus Ave may suc- 
cinctly arriA^e at the beliefs and preferences of the Illinois 
State Sportsmen's Association on matters of game pro- 
tection by reference to tlie following- summary: 
1. Dates for the open season: Ducks, geese, 
snipe and water fowl, Sept. i to April 15; grouse and 
prairie chicken. Sept i to Noa'. i; quail, Oct. 15 to Dec. 
15; woodcock, Sept. i to Dec. 15 ; squirrel, Sept, i to 
Dec. 15; deer, wild turkeys and Mongolian pheasants, 
protected till 1910; doves, Sept. i to Dec. 15. 
2. Should State game wardens be paid a stated salary? 
Yes, 
3. Would it not be well to have a State fund for the 
payment of wardens and propagation and preservation 
of game? Yes. 
4. How shall Ave obtain a fund for the pajmient of 
wardens for the protection of game? By a shooting 
license of $1 for residents, $5 for non-residents. 
5. Should a limit be placed on the number of birds one 
person may kill in a day? Thirty-five head of any one 
kind of game in any one day. 
6. Would it not be wise to pass a law prohibiting en- 
tirely the sale of game, excepting during the period be- 
tAveen the fifth day after the opening of the open season 
and the fifth day before the closing of the open season? 
Yes. . 
7. Would it be wise to pass a law prohibiting entirely 
the cold storage of game? Yes, prohibiting cold storage 
for commercial purposes in any stolehouse of tempera- 
ture less than 32 degrees. 
8. Would not the prohibiting of the cold storage of 
game and the sale of any game, from any State, at any 
period other than the time mentioned in Question 7, 
make it unprofitable for dealers and market hunters alike 
to handle game, and thus take away the incentive to 
violate the game laws? Yes. 
9. Would it not be wise to divide the State into eight 
game districts, with a paid district game warden in each, 
to look after the enforcement of the laws in his district? 
Advise one State warden with a deputy for each county. 
TO. Could A'ou suggest any improA^ement in the present 
fish laAvs? No hook and line fishing within 4poft of any 
dam from April i to July i. 
II. Should there be an open season on doves? If so, 
what dates? Yes, Sept. i to Dec. 15. 
The Proceedings. 
The meeting was called to order at the parlors of the 
Fey Hotel at 11 A. M., Vice-President Abner Price, of 
•Chicago, in the chair, President Fahnes'tock, of Peoria, 
being absent in California; Secretary G. F. Simmons 
Avas at the desk. An address of welcome was delivered 
hy Mayor Warner, of Peoria. On call of delegates the 
following clubs responded, with the folloAving repre- 
sentation: 
Peoria Gun Club — G. H. Portman, Robert D. Clarke, 
J. M. Brown, George F. Webber, William Ohl, Frank 
K. Whiting, Dan Raum, Robert Scholes. 
Duck Island Hunting and Fishing Club — D. W. Voor- 
hees, Peoria; Will Bush, Peoria; W. H. Shaw, Canton; 
Abner Price, 
Henry Gun Club — J. S. Brassfield. 
Aledo Gun Club — ^J. F. Henderson. 
Canton Gun Club— A. J. McQuaid, W. H. Shaw. 
Undercliffe and Lake Senachwine County — ^J. G. Ren- 
ter. 
Pekin Gun Club — ^J. N. James. 
Wyoming Gun Club — ^J. M. Thomas, Jr. 
Chicago Fly-Casting Club — George W. Strell. 
Crystal Lake Club, of Henderson County^ — ^E. H. Car- 
penter, of Burlington, la. 
College Cit}'' Hunting and Fishing Club — J. H. Petti- 
bone, Burlington, la., and Carl Leopold, Burlington, la. 
Lone Tree Fishing Club — ^J. H. I^ettibone, Burlington, 
la. 
Rice Lake Hunting Club^ — ^J. C. Thompson, Jr. 
Carthage Lake Gun Club, of Henderson County — F. 
J. Schlager and J. C. Lathan, of Burlington, la.; S. P, 
Bartlctt, United States Fish Commissioner, Quincj'; 
McLean County Gun Club, Henry Ringhouse, Bloom- 
ington; L, W. Hurff, ElmAvood, III,; W. H. Clinch, 
Elmwood; John Kell}^ Peoria; Joseph Fargo, Ben- 
son; C. J. Sammis, Peoria; Charles Bartson, Peoria; 
W. E. Giles. Peoria; A, E. Giles. Peoria; W. C. Bush, 
Peoria; M. D, Hurley, Peoria; E. H. Bradley. M. D.. 
Peoria; J. W, Henry, Galesburg; E. B. Davis, Gales- 
burg; R. B. Organ, Chicago; H. W. Loveday, chief 
game Avarden, Chicago; Nath. H. Cohen, Fish Com- 
missioner, Quincy; Dr. W. V, Gutterg, Middleton; A. 
L. Deaton, Middleton. 
On motion all present were admitted to the discus- 
sions on matters before the convention. 
A committee of two — Messrs. Robert Clark, of Peoria, 
and J. M. Thomas, of Wyoming — Avas set to work at 
tabulating the hundreds of answers to the printed lists 
of questions. The secretary read a letter of regrets from 
President Fahnestock. The latter inclosed a letter from 
Col, C. E. Felton, of Chicago, expressing at great length 
his own personal views upon game legislation. Col. 
Felton appears not to have been happy Avhen he Avrote 
the letter, for among other things he expressed extreme 
dissatisfaction Avith the sportsmen's papers, remarking in 
part: "When sportsmen try to injure legitimately the 
mercantile class the}'- but furnish food with which to kill 
all really friendh' legislation for the protection of game. 
Much better (were it possible or proper) to muzzle the 
sportsmen's press (so called, but not truthfully, as our 
papers are noAV but adA^ertising mediums) and prohibit 
their advertising guns, ammunition,- tournaments, etc., 
creating a desire to shoot birds. It is the greed for the 
almighty dollar on their part, which, more than a like 
number of market men, fosters the illegal killing of game. 
Preaching and practice with these journals are not in 
harmonA'." 
Mr. Clark, of Peoria, asked: "Who is Mr. Felton?" 
Mr. Hough, of the Forest and Stkeam, moved to table 
the letter of Col. Felton, Mr. Strell, of the American 
Field, seconding. Motion lost, Mr. Shaw, of Canton, 
substituting a A'ote of thanks, though the press couldn't 
see anything to be thankful OA'er. Col. Felton didn't 
ought to do this, for the sporting papers have ahvays 
treated him A'erj^ nicely, as they do CA-erybody else. If 
they should cease doing so, and start out after him some 
bright morning with a conjoint sharp stick, he would 
accumulate Weltschmerz faster than he hath dreamed. 
As I have stated earlier, the real trouble with Col. Felton 
is that he can't shoot Avell enough to kill himself a mess 
of birds, so he wants to be alloAved to buy them; other- 
wise he is a nice man. 
Uniform Opening Date. 
When the committee on replies announced its willing- 
ness to report, it became CA'ident that it would be diffi- 
cult to classify the replies exactly. Thus on the question 
on the legal season for Avildfowl twelve asked for Sept. i 
to April 15; twenty for Sept. 15 to April i; twelve Sept. 
15 to May i; five Oct. i to April i; four Sept. i to 
Jan. i; six Sept. i to April i; one Sept. i to Dec. i; 
two Jan. I to March 15. One member of the Association 
sent in a reply stating that he did not Avant any game 
laAv at all! Several members of clubs living near the 
borders of other States Avhere there was no spring' shoot- 
ing wanted the season to end Feb. i. The closing part 
of the law was the important part in the minds of the 
Southern members, and as to the opening date they were 
not so insistent. On motion of Mr. W. H. ShaAv, of 
Canton, the closing date was made April 15. A A'ery 
excellent course Avas taken upon the action of Mr. Strell's 
motion to open the fall season on all feathered game at 
Sept. I, so that no gun should go afield before that date 
for any reason or excuse. This was carriea. The wisdom 
of such a date is apparent, as it nieans protection to July 
Avood ducks and August grouse, which are so often killed 
under the coA'er of earlier open dates on other game, 
such as woodcock, etc. The closing date on quail, wood- 
cock and squirrels was set for Dec. 15; on prairie chick- 
ens, Nov. I. , 
Some time Avas spent over the discussion of a deer 
law, Mr. Leonard, of Burlington, thinking that deer 
might again live with us in loAver Illinois, at least if 
they had protection. The closed term indorsed, till 1910, 
is proper, but not vital. The question of rabbits proved 
far more important, and the farmer boy, the gun and 
the' flock of c^uail on the snow came up for careful con- 
sideration. It was agreed that a rabbit law would raise 
a howl from all OA'cr the State, and therefore it was de- 
cided to leave the rabbit where he is now, an outlaw 
against whom every man's hand may be raised on sight. 
It was Avise to specify snipe instead of leaving alive the 
ambiguity of the present Illinois law, and it was wise 
to recommend uniformity of dates on snipe and ducks, 
so that the alleged snipe hunter may not shoot ducks, 
and vice versa. Mr. James, of Pekin, wanted snipe 
.shooting to run into the spring as far as May 15, but 
his motion was lost. 
The Mongolian Pheasant. 
Dr. E. H. Bradley, of Peoi-ia, brought up the question 
of propagation of the Mongolian pheasant, stating that 
such a bird would add much to our sporting resources. 
Mr. Carpenter thought results with this bird had been 
cUsappointing. Of many birds put down he had hearel 
very little, and he thought they did not do well. Mr. 
Leopold begged leave to dift'er, as he had seen several 
of these birds, some as much as tAventy miles from the 
place where they were put down, in Hancock and Hen- 
derson counties. He thought them well worth trying. 
Others spoke of the success with these birds in other 
States. On motion of Mr. Strell they were added for the 
close term till 1910. Let us bop.e that no future Governor 
will A'eto this measure. 
New Ideas. 
The new idea of salaried wardens, paid from a State 
, fund, seemed to prevail in the convention, though it 
was agreed that any game law establishing a salary and 
not proA'iding for the salary Avould be killed in the Legis- 
lature. On the question of raising such a fund the idea 
of the gun license was a natural sequence. It was A^oted 
that an annual shooting license of $1 should be charged 
upon all residents wishing to shoot in Illinois, this not 
to be a gun tax, but a gun license, payable only by those 
who cared to shoot. 
The Ring of Real Sportsmanship* 
The ring of real sportsmanship Avas evident in the 
speech of Mr. Robert Scholes, who asked time for re- 
marks on the question of putting a limit on the daily 
bag. Mr. Scholes said that tWenty-five birds were enough 
for any man who is out for sport, and he took it that 
all members of the Association claimed to be sportsmen. 
The market hunter might Avant more birds than that, 
but he concluded that the day Avas past when market 
hunting could.be tolerated by sportsmen. None of us 
were market hunters, he said. He moved a limit by law 
of twenty-five head of game to any one gun for one day. 
Mr. Clark, of Peoria, Avas frankly and naively op- 
posed to this. He thought fifty birds Avas nearer right. 
Suppose j-ou have been out four or five days, and you 
get a good chance at last, he said; would it not be hard, 
'n ciuit with twenty-five birds vi^ben they were coming 
in good? 
Mr. ShaAv, of Canton, opposed the idea of so small a 
limit. He said, Avith frankness equal to Mr. Clark's: "I 
am one of those game hogs." 
Mr. Hurff came out openly and said he did not believe 
in any limit at all on the bag. Mr. Leopold said he 
favored some sort of a limit. Mr. Clark moved to amend 
Mr. Scholes' motion by setting the limit at fifty head. 
Amendment lost, and Mr. Scholes' motion Avas carried. 
This action Avas done by a majority, but it left a very 
sore minority. Mr. Clark said that he believed such 
a measure would split the forces of the Association at 
the Legislature, as he could not indorse such a limit, and 
he kncAv a great many others Avould not. Mr. Lec^iold 
moved to reconsider. Motion reconsidered. Mr. Shaw 
then moA'cd that the limit of bag should be "thirty-five 
head of anj' one kind of game on any one day." Thus, 
he explained, one might kill thirty-fiA'e ducks, thirty-five 
snipe, thirty-fiA^e chickens, etc., the same day. The ShaAV 
motion carried and was made the sense of the coiwention. 
The Marketing of Game. 
Mr. Clark, of Peoria, voiced the opinion of the major- 
ity in his motion to admit a selling season for game, 
but limiting it by subtracting five elays from each end 
of the shooting season. Mr. Strell supported this with 
others. He later introduced a resolution memorializing 
the Legislature to abolish cold storage of game. Mr. 
Shaw moved to table this, as it Avould affect the holding 
of sportsmen's game in ice houses. It was pointed out 
that the ice house and the commercial cold-storage house, 
were not identical. Motion to table lost. The resolu- 
tion was shaped to specify commercial cold storage.. If 
the Legislature knows its duty it Avill xiow abolish the 
warehousing of game, which has hitherto been knovm 
to be a troublesome factor. 
Districts. 
On the question of districting the State Mr. Scholes 
said we must have funds before Aye could pay district 
wardens. He spoke of the light regard held for the 
law, citing the case of Sheriff Johnson, of that very 
city of Peoria, who had broken the chicken laAv last 
summer. To break a game laAv was as shameful as to 
break the law against burglary. Mr. Scholes made a 
strong speech in favor of good laws and good observance 
of them. Mr, Clark explained that Sheriff Johnson had 
thought Aug, 15 was the date. Mr. Scholes said it Avas: 
no matter Avhat he thought, he could easily have learned, 
as he had the statutes. Warden Poole stated that Sheriff 
Johnson had asked him Avhat A\'Ould be done if he Avent 
out shooting before the law was out. Warden Poole 
said he himself would do nothing, nor had he done any- 
thing, but he noticed that some other deputy had! 
The question of districting the State Avas closed by the 
motion of Mr. ShaAV, Avho favored a State warden and 
a deputy for each county. 
Fish Laws. 
,S. P. Bartlett, of the United States Fish Commis.sion, 
