The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-04

The Came LAWS OF New York County.
MEETING OF GAM DEALERs, EXPRESS MEN AND
OTHERS, TO PROTEST AGAINST THE PRESENT GAME
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, RIDICULOUS AND UN-
JUST ENACTNHNTs lY THE BOARD OF sUPKRvls0Rs-
REDRESS TO BIZ PEYITIONED FOR, ETC., ETC.
large and influential meeting Of game dealers, express
and others, was held in the new building Of the Ame
rcan Express Company Of Hudson and Jay Streets
yesterday morning. for The purpose Of considering the pro-
sent game aws which considered unjust The points
Of complaint that the law provides that certain kinds
Of game which do not now and never did exist in the
county, shall not be killed in the county at certain por
tons Of the year. and that the possession Of such
considered ima face evidence that was killed in the
county, and the possessor liable 10 fine and imprson
ment for its possession the suppostion that he killed
it, he not being allowed 10 prove to the contrary
The meeting was organized by the selection Of John j.
Drew as President and 81. X. Miller as Secretary.
Mr. u r. French being called upon TO state the object Of
the meeting and bearings Of the law, made the following
address, which sets forth na clear and concise
all the points Of complaint and the arguments adduced in
their favor
Mr. PREsnKsr-The object of this meeting of persons
connected with and interested in the game trade s
slider the bearings and probable effect Of the present
laws and especially Of certain ordinance recently passed
by the Board Of Supervisors Of this city and county with
the Mayors approval and to determine upon line Of
policy for mutual safety and defence This ordinance
Visions sxrsvasant IN It's penalties inconsistent, and we
believe, unconstitutional With the ostensibe and unob
econabe object OF preserving certain kinds of game and
hsh In the county Of New York; it seems 70 entirely
transcend the powers Of local legislation and TO interdc
the established and constitutional rights Of commerce.
makes the taking killing Of certain kinds Of game
fish in this city and county-some OF which existed,
ana most oil which have long since disappeared from this
island-a penal oenee 1t further provides that the pos
session OF any Of the inhibited game or fish shall be
deemed by the courts conclusive proof that the pos
SCISSOR has himself killed or taken the said game
fish, and subjects him to tho extravagant penalties
Of this extraordinary law, without in any way allowing
the accused to prove himself innocent OF the alleged
bins receive small consignment of 900 prairie fowls
from the West One Of the normers OF that respectable
body Of game 9se n @ tue New YORK %
sion Of the 900 birds is duly proven and hence in the
language of the law, Messrs. Robins are deemed held
taking the same," and they must pay a fine Of $25 for
each bird, the snug Of $25 GOO, for having killed
bird of Of that species ever existed IN
wild state within the said county. The position of the
express companies is still serious The penalty Of
$25 per head upon load Of small birds deemed by
this law to have been killed by the express company
in the city or county Of New York, would
make bad gap in the profits OF years business.
The absurdy Of the equally obvious the case Of
venison. The killing of wild deer is, doubt very pro-
pery prohibited from the first Of January to the first Of
skin on and after the first Of January is constituted the
same offence as killing the deer Thus is lawful for the
huntsmap to pursue his vocation up to the first day Of
January but the hunt Of the last day of December prove
successful and he brings the carcases of deer to his hut
camp, lawfully killed, the possession of it the next
morning will subject him the rigors of the law De-
cember the best month Of the lawful for taking
deer and in usual winter weather the meat may be kept
in the fresh for weeks, months but accord
ing to the law all the venson OF the season must be sent
to Market sod and consumed prior to the first of Janu
Thus quantities OF venison taken in proper season.
and shipped with law abiding Intentions but detained
through stress Of weather casualty as to reach the
market after the first Of January, must be at once de-
stroyed AT all events it is penal offence to have it
in possession for moment, and the law neither con-
templates or will allow of any Justification whatever
The sportsmen may pursue and kill deer for their
amusement leaving the carcass TO rot in the woods to
the last hour Of the while hunter must give
up his vocation during important part of the lawful
season, what is the thing lose all that he may
have taken too late to reach the distant market and be
sold before the the inhibited period The
apparent incongruy and injustice of this ordinance sug
gesed the idea that the letter Of the law did not truly
present its spirit or properly convey the intentions of the
on thereto His Honor frankly took the ground that the
law not intended for this city and county aone but
for the whole country. The New York Sportsmens Club
is the appointed executive power for the enforcement Of
the law and it is doubt through their influence that the
recent ordnance was passed The officers Of this club
avow the same opinions as the Mayor III regard to the OBJ
jects Of the law viz-To prevent the sale of and thus
preserve the game of the whole country. We do
not question the laudable motives of these gen.
tlenen, and the Board of Supervisors have pro-
vided for the due reward of their magnanmity and
perseverance by appropratng 10 the club half the
amount Of the penalties they may be able to collect but
do think they assume too much in thus attempting to
control and abolish the large and important trade game
cenreng in this metropolis from all parts Of the country.
Suitable laws for the preservation OF game and fish, conn
ed IN their action TO the judicial territory of the legislative
bodies which they emanate, must be approved
all provdent and intelligent men, and in
teresed in the efficient application Of such laws than the
dealers and conveyers of themselves But for local
supervisors under Of protecting the and trout
Of county where the location of great city has Of
cessy nearly extnguished both, to prohibit trade with
distant counties and States in these decaces of
the tabe-many times received in such abundance to
become economical articles Of foodseems stretch Of
power truly surprising Other counties and other States
may be presumed competent to legislate for them
selves in this matter understanding, doubt, their
own local necessities and policy quite as well the Su
while the loca game law Of this city and county, passed
nearly nine years ago. with provisions nearly the
the recent ordinance, has virtually remained dead
letter. the supply OF venison and other kinds Of game has
constantly increased faster than the largely ncreas
ing demand showing pretty clearly that the Of
supply have remained unmpaired, Notwithstanding the
neflciency heretofore Of the Sportsmens Club the
city authorities seems however, that these
tors of the game Of the entire country have suddenly
become conscious Of their past remssness and
determined to rgidy enforce these remarkable laws
Of their own procurement-laws nterdcting le-
ultimate line of trade between the States, the free
dom Of which is consttutionally guaranteed, cutting
large OF remittance from Western merchants
citizens Of much desired and wholesome article Of food
II becomes necessary, therefore, for those interested in
this matter who deem 1t proper to carry and buy, and
SELL and eat whatever OF wholesome food other States or
Jurisdictions may choose TO send u.s. to combine for the
maintenance and protection Of just and constitutional
rights.
Mr.. r. D. Van Schack the attorney employed by the
dealers read the law and petition embodypg the views
of those present The petition was unanimously adopted
desiring the repeal amendment Of the obnoxious por
tons OF the law 10 the trouble Of contesting IT,
Messrs. Van Schack, A. NJ. G. Smith, Clark, Miller and
French appointed committee present the petition,
collect funds for defrayng all expenses impress upon
the Board of Supervisors the injustice Of the law when the
meeting adjourned to week from next Wednesday.
After the adjournment the company detained few
moments TO discuss excellent ale which has been TO
the Crmea and back and which had fortunately into
the possession Of Mr.. Daniel Butterncd and A. NJ c.
Smith
Personal Intelligence.
with bis family and attaches at the Brevoort House.
Also DR.. Rae, Of the Arctic expedition; Hon. Amarl
Walker, Mass s. Nordheimer, Toronto, C. W. A. oders
and family. New Orleans