Jan, 21, 1899.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
' . . — 
49 
appropriation. The entire public wills in the future, as- 
suredly reap rich rewards from it. 
Quail on Steamships. 
You now naturally inquire how are we to protect our 
fish and game? Again you ask where and what is the 
.greatest destroyer of them? I emphatically state, in re- 
gard to the last question, that it is found in the cold stor- 
age houses that exist throughout the leiagth and breadth 
of this fair land. Last fall a gentleman informed me that 
in crossing the ocean en route to Continental Europe, as 
late as July he saw quail publicly served on the steamer at 
nearlj' every meal. Arriving in Europe, he found them at 
one of the gilt-edge cafes ; going to Egypt, he was again 
confronted with them, and these were paraded as Amer- 
ican quail. Cold storage solved it all. At a meeting of 
fish commissioners of various States, held in Chicago in 
February. 1898, one of the commissioners, Mr, Bortree. 
cited the Kenena case, where 27,000 head of game was 
uncovered (and covered up again) in a freezer. Mr. 
Werner, the steward of a large restaurant in Chicago, said 
at the same meeting: "I can show you a thousand saddles 
of venison in cold storage here to-da}^" I know how 
that goes, for I have bought game enough in iny time. I 
have had quail offered to me at 65 cents a dozen, and 
prairie chickens at $1 a dozen. The market was glutted 
at times, and the game deteriorated in the course of years ; 
in fact, it was not fit to eat after it had been so long in 
storage. 
A St. Louis game dealer employs sixty hunters sixty 
days before the season opens, and about the same time 
after its close. This has been published throughout the 
country and still the same firm continues its illegal traffic 
with as much boldness as if it were legal. 
I might fill pages with examples of the same kind, but 
the above is enough to convince, I hope, that the cold 
storage houses are knocking our game out at the rate of 
4 or 5 per cent, a year, and is one of the most conclusive 
methods of assisting in its utter extermination. I might 
ask in the language of the American humorist. "Where 
are we at?" and what are we going to do about it? Some 
say educate the people up to an observance of the law. 
Educate them, if you can, but the best educator is prompt 
and severe prosecution, and that is what we are organized, 
in part, for. You want no lace-like language for this sub- 
ject — plain, stubborn facts are better. 
Legislative Bungles. 
Our legislators evidently are not brilliant, sound nor 
subtle lawmakers when it comes to preparing statutes 
for the protection of fish and game. At every session 
they bungle, and all from the fact that they are not pains- 
taking in their work. The statutes of Ohio have many 
old laws in this respect that should be repealed, for they 
conflict with the present laws, and in many instances 
render them null and void. 
The law which made an open season the entire year 
for the destruction of the rabbit is also in aid of the pot 
and market-hunters, who. under the pretense of hunting 
the cottontails, more often destroy an entire covey of 
quail as it lies under some faded grass or in some weedy 
tussock. The law operates to the destruction of both. 
That, we presume, is manifest destiny, for civilization 
will eventtially destroy all game within a consistent radius. 
Non-Residents. 
After due consideration I am satisfied that there should 
emphatically be, and without delay, a non-resident license 
for the protection of our game. The non-resident pays 
nothing for the support and protection of our game, 
whereas the i-esident is taxed for the machinery of the 
Government, both State and local. ^ The State is now 
spending thousands for the propagation of the Mongolian 
pheasant, and once they are fully established in our fields 
and forests, is it not an imposition for non-residents to 
swarm over our borders, and slaughter these toothsome 
and beautiful birds without so much as saying "By your 
permission?" As an evidence of the importance of pro- 
tecting this coming game bird of America, which is given 
a close season by the State till 1903, I will simply state 
that the Fish and-Game Comirussion of Ohio has, the past 
year, judiciously distributed 2,000 of them, and in addition 
about 6,000 of their eggs. The results froni this have 
been ascertained to have been quite encouraging. 
There is also another law greatly needed, and that is 
one that will limit the killing of game and fish. This 
should clearly define the number to be taken each day, and 
if it is made effective it would very materially aid in 
cutting down the scores of the game and fish hogs. Realize 
if you can the indiscriminate slaughter that is made .by 
those who seek game for count alone, and who, to be in 
unison, overlook the smiles of nature and the charms of 
art. Our hotels and restaurants are in the same category, 
for they in general but add to the aggravation by serving 
the forbidden birds on every advantageous opportunity. 
They should, when found guilty, be made to feel the ex- 
treme penalty of the law. 
Uniform Law. 
It is also to be hoped that a uniform game law may at 
an early date be made conjointly with Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Indiana, Illinois and West Virginia. As early as 1876 this 
club was operating on the same basis, but nothing has 
yet materialized from it. It is really like solving the riddle 
of the Sphinx to secure the co-operation of the Legisla- 
tures of the States mentioned.' We will not, however, ex- 
pand on this, as we reported largely in regard to it in our 
last annual paper. 
My esteemed Cuviers, we must be up and bravely doing 
the work that is mapped out for us with indomitable 
energy. You have all earnestly toiled in this respect in 
the past, but let us put on stronger harness, and in the 
future do still greater work. It was glory once to be a- 
Roman ; now m.ake it glory to be a Cuvier, and earn the 
laurel wreath or golden crown. 
The game warden of Hamilton county, W* C. Rippey, 
reported ; I have been very careful in prosecuting cases 
to make sure of the conviction before bringing suit. In 
the several cases we have had we have secured a prompt 
conviction. In the case of Besuden vs. the State, for 
shooting a quail out of season, he was fined $25 and costs. 
In the case of Jokers vs. the State, for having quail in his 
possession out of season, he was fined $25 and costs. In 
the case of Rau vs. the State, for the same offense, he was 
fined $25 and costs. In the case of Martin vs. the State, 
for the same offense, he was fined the costs, ampunting to 
$50. There have been three convictions for shooting on 
lands without permission ; in each case they were fined the 
sum of $5 and costs. VVe have now pending a suit for 
Sunday shooting which has not as yet been decided. 
With reference to dynan^iting and seining of the Little 
and Big Miamis, we have parties on both streams, who 
reside there, who are prepared to watch the rivers at the 
opening of the spring season. When the illegal work is 
being done we will no doubt have information at once, 
and I will act on the same immediately. The deputies 
appointed from different parts of the county are thorough- 
ly reliable men, and will, I think, acquit themselves credit- 
ably. I believe it to be harder at the present time to buy 
quail of the local dealers than at any time for years. 
In connection with this we will state that the fines under 
Game Warden Dr. Haywood, during the early part of 
1898, amounted to $200. I would also add that if any 
member of the Cuvier Club attended the Peabody ban- 
quet at the Grand Hotel at which quail were served under 
a different head, partridge, I believe, and will only testify 
to the same, we could bag one of the biggest violators of 
the game laws in the city. 
The treasurer's report showed receipts of $4,135.07 and 
expenditures of $3,154.82, leaving a balance of $980.25. 
Maine Game Interests, 
[From the Commissioners' Report.] 
Caribou. 
There are but few caribou in Maine compared with a 
few years ago. It is not long since they were more plen- 
tiful' than deer, but they have apparently steadily de- 
creased. Various reasons and suggestions are given to 
account for it, such as the decrease of their natural food, 
the moss, the depleting of the forests by the extensive 
lumbering operations, their alleged tendency to migrate, 
and kindred ideas. There are considerable numbers of 
caribou yet remaining in some sections of Aroostook 
county, and possibly in one or two other counties. The 
probability of the early extinction of the caribou should 
occasion great concern. There seems to be no reasonable 
doubt that their numbers could not stand the constant 
drain from year to year occasioned by the persistency with 
which they were hunted in open season, and the nefarious 
operations of the common poacher, pot-hunter, hide and 
market hunter. This is the cause' of their disappearance. 
There is abundance o£ their natural food, the forests and 
barrens, their natural home, are almost unlimited, they 
have not migrated except before the muzzle of a Win- 
chester rifle. If asked for a remedy, the obvious reply 
is protection. If caribou could be let alone for a term 
of years doubtless their numbers would rapidly increase. 
The law can do something, its enforcement much more, 
but game laws cannot be enforced without the means to 
employ a suitable number of suitable men to enforce it. 
The greatest depredations are along the Canadian border. 
The outlaw seeks an abode on the Canadian side of the di- 
visional line, and has every opportunity to Klay and kill 
without any one to "molest or make him afraid." _ Safe 
in his Canadian retreat he goes forth in summer and in the 
deep snows in winter and butchers the caribou to his 
heart's content on the American side, and is back again 
with his bundle of hides before any of the authorities 
know anything about it. An English gentleman of candor 
and intelligence informed us that caribou and moose meat 
was openly and publicly peddled on the streets of a 
Canadian town adjoining Maine during the entire sum- 
mer of 1898, and at one time in the winter of 1897-98 fifty 
caribou were hanging up in the woods, killed in the deep 
snows on the American side. 
Moose. 
That moose are more scattered, that is, found over a 
larger area of the State than in recent years, seems to be 
an established fact. 
All familiar with the proceedings of the Legislature of 
1897 will remember that at that time there was a strong 
feeling that we should have an absolute close time for 
five years on moose, or tUe there was great danger of 
having this, almost the last of the larger game animals of 
the United States, becoming extinct. 
The Legislature did not see fit to make an absolute 
close time for five years, but restricted the hunting sea- 
son to six weeks, instead of three months, as before, and 
also made the penalty for violation of the law very se- 
vere. We are inclined to think the danger point is passed 
in consequence of this change, provided, always, that the 
destruction can be confined to legal hunting during the 
open season, from Oct. 15 to Dec. i.' 
The number of moose in the United States is not large, 
for the region they inhabit is comparatively very small, yet 
they were once numerous over a territory more than 
twenty times larger than where found to-day. 
Within the borders of our own State probably stand 
more moose than can be found in- all North America out- 
side of Maine, in regions accessible to sportsmen and 
hunters, and it largely rests with this and the coming ses- 
sions of the Maine Legislature to say whether or not 
this "monarch of the forest" of our generation shall be- 
come extinct. 
, While sentiment may figure somewhat in influencing: 
the minds of some people in considering this subejct, still 
if sentiment is disregarded entirely, and only the actual 
commercial value of the animal is taken into considera- 
tion, even then it seems to us a wise policy for our State 
to carefully ^uard and protect them against either exter- 
mination or decrease in numbers. 
It is estimated by conservative judges interested in the 
preservation of our game interests, that the average worth 
of each male moose that inhabits our forests is at least 
$500. We fully agree with them that this estimate is not 
too large, because we know from actual inquirj' and ob- 
servation that it costs more than that sum, on an average, 
for the sportsman from abroad to secure his moose 
trophy. 
As there were killed in this State in 1897, 250 of which 
we have record, it will be seen that the money left in 
consequence, if our calculations are correct, was $125,000. 
These seem like large figures, we are aware, but feal^ 
izing that the posible chance of gettuig a moose induces 
many other sportsmen to come and hunt deer, we feel 
sure that couJd exact figures be obtained they would be 
larger rather than smaller than those given. 
The number killed this season promises to be approx- 
imately as large or perhaps even larger than in 1897, 
which naturally raises the question in the minds of those 
mterested whether the supply will stand this constant 
drain, for the number who hunt them will never be less 
so long as they exist in any considerable numbers 
A great deal of the best breeding and feeding .grounds 
are along the Canadian border, hundreds of miles in ex- 
tent, and candor compels us to say that the evidence 
seems to show conclusively that poachers from the Cana- 
dian side make it a business to kilt moose on the Ameri- 
can side and openly peddle the meat in the Canadian 
markets. 
To remedy this state of affairs would require the ser- 
vices of four additional trained wardens, at least, to patrol 
this section constantly. 
From the most reliable information we have gathered 
from all sources — registered guides, wardens, hunters and 
others who have exceptional facilities for forming the best 
judgment upon this question, as well as somewhat exten- 
sive personal observation — we are of the opinion that the 
future supply will not warrant any additional open time 
on moose, or greater facilities for their capture. 
Deer. 
If we give due credence to all reports received from 
every quarter, registered guides, sportsmen, newspaper 
correspondents, farmers, transportation companies, war- 
dens and others, deer have been increasingly abundant 
during the year. The exceptionally deep snows of last 
winter caused some an.xiety, but we were unable to learn 
that deer suffered thereby. 
The opportunities and tempation to kill deer illegally 
have greatly increased in the last few years. They are 
now - found in every county- and nearly every town 
in tlie State. There were at least 10,000 killed in 
1S97 legally, and the number legally killed this year can- 
not be less than 11,000. The number illegally killed is- 
largely a matter of .speculation or guess work. 
At first glance it would seem that it would be impossi- 
ble to supply the demand from the natural increase, if 
they are to be yearlj^ taken in such large numbers. "We 
are, however, convinced that there will be plenty of deer 
for an indefinite period, provided the present close time is 
maintained and legal killing only is indulged in. 
Damage to Farmers* Crops by Deer. 
We have received a number of complaints from far- 
mers in various parts of the State that deer were destroy- 
ing, or had destroyed, their growing crops, in some in- 
stances accompanied by a bill of the amount of damage 
■claimed, and also a demand more or less emphatic that 
"the Commissioners take care of the State's cattle and 
prevent them from destroying their growing: crops." 
We have endeavored to- carefully investigate every such 
complaint, and are convinced that the damage done to 
growing crops by deer is greatly overestimated, and is 
largely imaginary. 
Still there are a few well authenticated cases where sub- 
stantial damage has been done, and we think in all such 
cases means should be provided whereby full compen- 
sation may be received by the injured party. 
"Ways and Means, 
The feeling seems to be increasing that the State, aside 
from individuals, should derive substantial revenue from 
its fish and game, in order to relieve in a measure our 
citizens of a portion of the burdens of taxation now re- 
quired for the propagation of fish and the protection of 
game; whether the revenue derived from the license fees 
of guides, taxidermists and others, fines collected and 
other sources of revenue, shall all be expended each year 
for this purpose, in addition to the regular appropriation, 
or form the nucleus of a permanent fund, only the inter- 
est of which shall be expended,- is a matter that the Leg- 
islature must determine. There is not much doubt, how- 
ever, that if during August and September deer are al- 
lowed to be taken for food purposes only, by the person 
taking them in certain portions of the State, on payment 
of a fee of $6 for non-residents and $4 for residents, under 
such rules and regulations as the Commissioners may es- 
tablish from time to time, and allowing shipment of fish 
and game, under such rules and regulations, when not 
accompanying it, on payment of a suitable fee, that a 
large permanent fund would accumulate in a few years, 
the interest alone of which would jaeld a substantial rev- 
enue. 
In this connection it may not be amiss to call attention 
to what appears to be a feeling more or less strong among 
the taxpayers of the State, that some system should be 
devised for the taxing of visiting sportsmen by requiring 
a license fee from them, and the system in vogue in 
some of the States, and New Brunswick and other coun- 
tries or provinces, is the most 'frequently advocated for 
the purpose of raising such revenue. 
With a perfected guide law — with a law allowing the 
transportation of fish and game unaccompanied by the 
owner, under proper restrictions, on payment of a fee to 
the State, and allowing the taking of one deer for food 
purposes only, in certain portions of the Stale, during 
August and September, on pa3'meiit of a fee for each deer 
so taken, with all proper restrictions so this privilege could 
not he abused, and possibly compelling the non-residents 
to hire registered guides, we are convinced that no good 
reason would exist for taxing non-residents for the priv- 
ilege of fishing or hunting within our iorders. 
Guides. 
The law enacted by the Legislature of 1897 requiring- 
those "who engage in the business of guiding, either for 
forest hunting, or inland fishing, or both, to cause their 
name, age and residence to be recorded by the Commis- 
sioners, and procure a certificate, setting forth that he is 
deemed suitable to act as a guide," has been severely 
and by many unjustly criticised. Before the law was 
given any chance to prove its usefulness or otherwise, it 
was assailed, ?nd the supposed authors of it, with the 
