296 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb. 22, 1908. 
New Jersey Sportsmen’s Association. 
Trenton, N. J., Feb. 10 . —Editor Forest and 
Stream: Filled with indignation at what they 
declared was a shabby trick, representatives of 
sixty fish and game protective associations and 
gun clubs, left the offices of the Board of Fish 
and Game Commissioners at the State House in 
disgust last night, after adopting a resolution 
to ask legislation direct from the legislators 
and not through the office of the Fish and Game 
Commission. Cooler heads tried to prevent an 
open rupture between the sportsmen and the 
commissioners, but it was useless, as the presi¬ 
dent of the commission, Benedict C. Kuser, of 
Mercer county, had constantly left the confer¬ 
ence while representative sportsmen and pro¬ 
tectors were speaking, and in many ways showed 
that the entire proceedings bored him. 
The sportsmen were there on invitation of the 
commission, to meet a body of baymen, said to 
object to the anti-spring shooting law drawn by 
the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Association for 
It U lawful at all time* of tht rear to angle f»>r yellow percn. catfish. sunfigh. eels and wicker* 
long a« noi moie than three hooks are used. 
Non-residents must lake out license to gun— 1 rnm county clerks, c 
to gunning lor water wild (owl. snipe, marsh or m'.d^hens 
It is unlawlul to hah through hole* i 
». I.aw dues 
for any kind of fish at any time. 
OPEN SEASONS WANTED BY THE SPORTSMEN. 
the protection and propagation of game and 
game birds, and indorsed by the Fish and Game 
Commission. Early in December last the as¬ 
sociation, which represents 11,000 sportsmen, re¬ 
ceived an invitation from the commissioners to 
meet them at Trenton to agree on laws to be 
introduced in the Legislature. The invitation 
was accepted, and on Dec. 3, a meeting was 
held at the offices of the commission in Tren¬ 
ton, at which it was suggested by the commis¬ 
sion that the association present a set of bills 
that in their judgment would meet with the ap¬ 
proval of sportsmen throughout the State. 
This was done, and at a later meeting of the 
executive committee of the association and the 
commissioners, the bills were read and approved 
of by the commissioners, who volunteered to 
have them introduced in the Legislature and if 
possible enacted.into laws. This so delighted 
the sportsmen that they immediately sent liter¬ 
ature throughout the State, appealing to mem¬ 
bers of the Legislature to vote for the bills, and 
sent personal letters to thousands of gunners 
requesting them to speak to their members of 
the Legislature in behalf of the bills. The press 
of the State responded, many papers printing 
editorials in favor of the anti-spring, shooting 
bill proposed. 
On Feb. 3, much to the surprise of the 
sportsmen, Mr. Batten, president of the State 
association, received a communication from the 
fish and game commissioners, requesting the 
executive committee of the State asopiation to 
meet at Trenton for another conference, as the 
baymen from South Jersey protested against 
the anti-spring shooting bill. 
The executive committee answered the call, 
and were informed by President Kuser of the 
commission that he would not help -to stop 
spring shooting. The sportsmen demanded to 
know why he had changed his mind. He said 
that the southern part of the State was allotted 
to him to take care of and since indorsing the 
anti-spring shooting bill he had made a tour of 
that portion and had met some baymen who 
protested that they had the right to shoot ducks 
whenever they pleased, and that they would not 
allow a few “sports” to interfere with them. 
The sportsmen demanded that Mr. Kuser call 
another conference and request the baymen to 
meet the sportsmen at Trenton, there to talk 
over the matter and see if they could not con¬ 
vince the baymen that if the ducks were pro- 
1907 Open and Cloze Seasons in New Jersey 1907 
B/acK—open season _ White — dose season 
The penalties are tor eacfjdrt 
/mat unlawfully fa Ken or had in 
possession. In case of non-pay 
men! of tines and costs the con¬ 
noted are subject to imprison¬ 
ment The open season includes 
both dates mentioned. 
fort Rabb i Qotil Rutndfe Gnxts f Entfah or 
Kn{ nrded fatten A Gray.BbdkfotSqarrtk 
Cray. English or Wilson Snipe. 
Foil Bird. Marsh Hen or Mud Hen 
and Reed Bird 
Upland Plover 
Ceese. Dock. Brant end 
Water Wild Font 
Brook Trout. 
Crappie.Cahco Bass. Black Bass. 
Pike Perch end White Bass. 
Pike and Pickerel 
Shore Birds.5urfSnipe 
or Bay Snipe. 
Tl ts lawful at all time* ot the year to angle for yellow perch, catfish, sunfish, eels anJ sucker* a 
long as nut mure than three hooks are used. 
\i>n-rei*iiU-til« must take out license to gun--from c 
to gunning fur water wild fowl, snipe, marsh c 
It is unlawful to lull through holes in Ih 
county clerks: cost, >10.50. 
jo nens. 
: fur any kind uf fish at any 1 
* docs not apply 
OPEN SEASONS WANTED BY THE COMMISSION. 
tected in the spring, the baymen would have bet¬ 
ter shooting in the fall. This was agreed to by 
Mr. Kuser, and the date set for Feb. 10. 
The sportsmen made arrangements to have 
Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant to the Bureau of 
.Biological Survey of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, and Mr. William Dutcher, president of 
the National Audubon Societies, present at the 
conference, as well as some sportsmen from 
South Jersey. The conference was well at¬ 
tended, delegates being present from gun clubs 
and protective associations from as far south as 
Salem county and as far north as Morris county. 
Dr. Fisher pleaded with the fish and game com¬ 
mission to stand by its indorsement of the anti¬ 
spring shooting bill, and told of the action taken 
by the Canadian authorities to protect the ducks, 
geese and other waterfowl. , He said that the 
Canadian government tried to conform its laws 
.with those of the States near its border, as a 
means of better protection to the birds. He re¬ 
lated how extensive the breeding range for 
ducks was twenty-five years ago, every pond, 
slough and wet place being a breeding place 
for them. The State of New Jersey, he claimed 
was well adapted to the breeding of ducks. The 
mallard, black, teal and widgeon will breed in 
New Jersey, he continued, and the State is in 
the center of range of the fast diminishing wood- 
duck. Mr. Dutcher, who followed Dr. Fisher, 
produced maps of the duck range and told of 
the good the anti-spring shooting law has done 
for New York State. He asked that Commis¬ 
sioner Kuser be sent for so that he could ask 
him personally not to change his opinion in 
regard to the proposed law. When the com¬ 
missioner entered the room, he assured those 
present that he was in favor of the measure, but 
that he was influenced by some one in South 
Jersey and he feared that that person would 
prevent all other legislation if the anti-spring 
shooting bill was passed. 
James Matthews, secretary of the Passaic 
County Fish and Game Protective Association, 
and a delegate to the conference, announced 
that it was useless to continue the speaking 
further, as Assemblyman Amos Radcliffe, of 
Passaic county and a member of the House 
Committee on Fish and Game, and also a mem¬ 
ber of the Passaic County Fish and Game Pro¬ 
tective Association, had informed him that the 
Fish and Game Commission had agreed to favor 
the bill wanted by the baymen and market 
hunters, and that such a bill was at that time 
being prepared. The announcement surprised 
those present, and Mr. Batten asked the secre¬ 
tary of the commission to come into the room 
again and explain. He did so by presenting a peti¬ 
tion which he claimed containedthe names of 5,000 
baymen that did not want any change in the law. 
Mr. Batten then asked the commissioner il 
there were no baymen present, and Mr. Kuser 
said “no,” that they did not think it necessary 
to attend, so long as they sent a petition. In 
the meantime Mr. Winslow had counted the 
names on the petition and announced that there 
, were just 553 and again Mr. Kuser was asked, 
to explain, but evaded an answer by leaving the 
room. The- information was then volunteered, 
that the signatures were not those of baymen, 
but of store keepers and residents along the 
shore, and that some of them were fictitious. 
The sportsmen were dumbfounded at the sud¬ 
den turn in the proceedings and Mr. Batten de¬ 
clared that it mortified him to admit to Dr 
Fisher and Mr. Dutcher that the sportsmen were 
tricked. He said that the action of the commis-, 
sion was a direct insult to the New Jersey 
sportsmen. 
At this point Ephraim T. Gill, of the Tucka- 
hoe Gun Club, drew the following resolution 
which was unanimously and very quickly 
adopted: 
Resolved, by the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Association 
in conference this 10th day of February, 1908, at the offici 
of the New Jersey State Game Commission, 
First—That it is absolutely necessary for the protectioi 
of all game birds that shooting of the same after the firs 
day of January should cease until September 1st; this i 
in accordance with the general movement all over thi 
country, furthered by those persons who are best able h, 
judge of the habits and needs of birds, and of true gam 
protection, and is in the best interests of sportsmen a 
well as shore men. 
Second—That shooting of woodcock in July should b 
abolished. 
Third—That the sale of upland game be prohibited 
except rabbits 
Fourth—That the season for shooting quail, pheasant 
and tabbits remain as at present. 
Fifth—That the shooting of wood duck be abolished fo 
a term of years. 
After the adoption of this resolution, Secre 
tary Winslow moved that future efforts on tfi 
part of the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Associatioi 
to effect legislation for the protection of gam' 
be made through the legislators direct, and no 
