Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-03-03
For the Delaware Gazette ]
GAME Laws.

EDS. GAZETTE:-I have seen of late one
or two notices in our columns il regard
to killing OF wild game, warning farmers
not to kill, chase or worry with intent 10
hurt certain kinds of wild game Now 1
ask what right has the Legislature OF oaio,
or any other state TO say Wnab snaIL k1lI
on my farm or what 1 shall not kill? 1
MAKE the charge that the game law was
originally made IN the Interest OF Il lew
city '.Bii d Hunters and dare any man to
even undertake to deny it. The law for
bids us to kill certain kinds of wild game
between the 18th day of February and 18th
of October and about the time we are busi-
ly engaged in gathering our corn here comes
the geutlemauIy sportsman from the CITY
If sad s5fs finei on my Farm a tran set fsJr
quail they tear 1t to atoms aud am subject
to "a hne, and, perhaps, imprisoned Tor a
lumber Of days.
some of the new counties OF the western
part of the State, clearing up the forest,
where meat Is very scarce anu cannot pc
hads my family IS hungry and have no
money with which to purchase food, which
is the case with hundreds of poor, hard
working farmers, who are now Clearing up
the Swamps and fot eSts of the western
countit of Ohio, who shall say that have
no right to kItl 8 deer, u turkey or any 9TH
tr kind of wild game that will feed my tamil
ly Where is the right, where The justice.
where the common-stnSe IN such a law I?
The Legislature of Ohio says to us in the
swamps OF Putnam, Pauldlng anu others of
the new counties. You shall keep your
deer, turkey ami other wild game until af-
ter the 18th of October, then we will send
you some gents from Cincinnati. Colum bus
ana Obnt-E Clt1GS VINO Will haAA9 care OF Ilefn
for you" And right ON the heels of all that
has bt en- enacted comes another act sent
out IN advance of the regular published
volume saying, THAT il shall be unlawful
for any person between the first day of
March and he fist day Of September, upon
auy bay or lake within or bordering upon
this State, or upon any streams or waters
tributary thereto, or in any of the chan
nels ponds, swauIpS or marshes connected
Lherewithssto hunt, kill or destroy any
wild duck OF any kind. The I'd Seetton OF
this very important act declares that any
aFae arnzr ism rnF
this act shall be fined IN any sum not less
than one or more than two dollars for ev-
cry duck found in his possession, or expos-
ed for sale contrary to the provisions of this
act. And the court assessing the fine may
order the Offcnder to stand committed to
the jail of the county until the fine II paid
The Sd SECTION provides that all prosecutions
shall be made In the mamie Of the state or
Ohio, and that all tiues collected shall be
paid One-half to the tnformer the other
half into the county tre asurer.
Here Is a special inducement for one
neiRhbor to inform on another especially
ii there is an old grudge existing between
them. II dors seem to- me that the Leglslu-
ture has reached a point in folly. hey ond
which IL Is impossible to go. l ask again,
what right has the Legislature to say that
shall be- Imprisoned hlr setting a quAil-trap
on my farm or for killing a wild duck In the
snribg-run or In some pond ON the samr2
Will some knowing r. emtleman of the Leg
isiatuTe ansWer2 We say down with all
game laws. FELIX Y. FREsHWATER.
Ashley, March LIST, 1871.