The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-25

And warranted to fit the feet.
Dry Goods and Groceries sold so low,
That to MALLoN's we all wish to 60.
The Cattle Disease.-The Texas cattle
disease or some complaint similar to it,
has broken out in this county, or has been
brought into the county by Western cattle
bought by farmers for the purpose of feed
ing.
John Stump, at Perryville, has lost sew
eral cattle by the disease, and we hear Of
losses from the disease by John Mauldin,
G. p. Whitaker and others. w. w. Moore,
who is an extensive feeder of Western cat
tie, has recently lost two drove steers, one
of them dying on last Friday, 18th inst.
]. E. Gillespie, one of the County Com
missioners, lost a fine yoke of oxen about
three weeks since, which he had recently
purchased from Western drove. All of
these cattle died with the disease known
as the Texas cattle disease. Some of the
animals remained without symptoms of
the disease for several weeks after they
had been purchased from the droves.-
Farmers should hesitate about purchasing
Western drove steers before the frosts set
in. Mr.. Moore has determined to make
no further purchases till cold weather has
set in.
Stake Nets in Elk River.-We are in
formed by farmers living on the banks of
the river that more pound nets are being
placed in the river this season than ever
before, Notwithstanding the positive prohi-
bition of law. What kind of officers have
We, that the plainest provisions of law are
violated under their very noses, without
their making the least effort to sustain the
laws which they have been made expressly
the guardians of? They seem to have the
greatest sympathy for law breakers and no
regard for the public rights or their own
duties. Is this condition of affairs always
to last, while party gamblers man@uvre
for place and power by organizing honest
men to do the voting for them9 These
nets trap almost every fish that swims, and
their meshes are so fine that fish as large
as mans finger is secured, and is sure to
be killed by the fisherman who cares moth
ing for the future welfare of the public or
his own.
The fish are growing scarcer in the Elk,
and other rivers experience the same re-
suits, we presume. Where white perch
could be taken in large numbers by ang-
ling, few years ago, scarcely one can be
caught now, which is doubtless the result
of the Wholesale destruction carried on by
the system of fish traps that has been pur-
sued in recent years. Property on the river
has been greatly deprecated in value by
the lawless poaching of irresponsible and
law-defying fishermen, who own nothing
but net and boat and gain precarious
living by this mode of life, which is at the
cost of the public, and of but temporary
advantage to themselves.
No reform can be hoped for in the fishing
abuse till the property owners on the rivers
and men of public spirit, form protective
associations for the propagation of fish and
game, and have the laws rigidly enforced
by their own officers.
What individuals are powerless to effect,
an association, with retained attorney
and constables specially appointed for ar
resting and prosecuting violators of the
game and fish laws, would most success
fully accomplish; and the race of Arabs
who lead half vagabond life of hunting
and fishing, at all seasons and in the most
destructive manner, would soon be sup
pressed. 1t is useless for the State to
appoint fish commissioners to stock the
streams with young fish if a vagabond race
of fishermen are allowed to trap and kill
the fish, young and old, at their pleasure.
The rivers of the county would soon be-
come sources of immense profit to the land
owners on their banks, and a source of
revenue to the State if the fishing laws
were carried out, and the fish properly pro
tscted till grown. And it is the duty of
those owning valuable properties on the
rivers to start the organization of protec-
tive societies without delay. Fish and
game might, in few years, be made as
plentiful in this part of the country as they
were fifty years ago, and the whole public
would be benefited tenfold, compared with
what they are to-day. If irresponsible and
ignorant parties, who would rather fish and
gun than do honest, profitable labor, are
allowed to work their own pleasure without
a wise restraint being placed upon their
actions, the entire species of wild game
and fish will be sacrificed and none left to
propagate. The stupidest person must see
the injurious policy of such course
injurious to all alike.
Then let associations for the protection
of fish be formed the present Fall. When
we published the law relating to stake nets
last Spring, it created great furry among
the fish trappers, and had there been the
least movement to enforce it the unlaw-
full business could have been easily broken
up; but they seeing that no effort would be
made to interfere with their business, are
enboldened to pursue the system of de-
struction with renewed energy, as the fish
grow scarcer.
Carpets, Oil-cloths, Curtain Fixtures and
Shades, at T. DRENNEN's.
Chesapeake City Items.