The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-09-01
PROTECTING CANE.
How Four Violators of the Fish
Law We're Bagged.
A Few Timely Suggestions.
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 81, 1880.
Editors Herald:


!, espied a man in the river, which a
7 the mouth OF the canon is quite deep
: and being under the Impression tia
g he was perhaps using landing me-
: for the capture OF one of the large
s trouts which are sometimes caught
D there. ne watched him intently. A
E few moments revealed the true state
! OF affairs however, and q, glance
We saw that be had three companions
> and as We approached them We dis
covered that they were engaged in
the netarious business OF spearinR
! fish. The four zen bad formed in g
line. each with spear in his hand.
! While thus abreast they commanded
the whole width OF ths beautiful
stream, and nothing bat their lack oil
skill OF course gave any FISH chance
OF life.
After watching them intently, so
that there could be 40 mistake, and
purposely noting their actions, and
plainly seeing them strike at fish
with their hsrpoon-like spears, We
drove quietly on, with a view to dis
cover others OF the party. We soon
found that ne had the whole party in
sight. Driving slowly along 90 as to
avert their suspicion, which, how
ever, seemed to have been aroused to
some extent, we halted after having
gone perhaps hundred yards. After
little consultation we decided to
return and make the capture, and
let the results take care of themselves.
As there we're a few birds flying
around we shouIdered our guns and
walked down upon the enemy.
HailiDg the men We talked very
pleasantly, and asked them quite q
number OF questions, which they an
swered promptly, but with some little
evasion. We could see at once that
they felt uneasy, and soon we
brought matters to q focus by in
forming them that as representatives
of the Utah Game and Fish Protective
Society it was our duty to secure
their arrest, or to take such action in
the matter as the circumstances,
when We understood them, might
seem 10 JUSTIFY.
To be brief, We finally convinced
them that the best thing they could
do would be to surrender themselves
pesceably to Us, giving their names
and residences, 60 that We could
find them whenever the society
or the officers OF the county might
need them. This seemed to be fair
proposition and they consented to
give their names, but here another
difficulty aresei We had no writing
instrument in the party. Having
some rife cartridges with MS, We
whitfield q bullet down to a point and
on the margin OF the HERALD We
took their names. The poor cusses
looked miserable enough to satisfy
anybody at this iuncture, az they had
just emerged rom the stream, and
we're wet up to their necks. To aid
to their discomfort, q cool wind was
blowing and with the excitement of
the situation it certainly seemed as il
they were not enjoying themselves to
say the least. Any sentiment OF
pity which was suggested by their
sorry plight was soon dIspelled when |
We found that all cur chances OF
catching fish had been destroyed by
the speAring and excitement created |
among the finny tribe thereby.
Soon after leaving the poachers,
and while standing near the edge OF
the stream, | saw trout with 8
wound on his right side about the
size OF silver half dollsr which | am
confident had been inflicted by these
outlaws. The poor fish was almost
cut apart, and when it struggled to |
get away from me it jerked itself
along almost in the form of an L.
Such outrsges as these cannot
continue long without depopulating
the streams, and if the sportsmen do
not now and hereafter exercise un-
ceasing vigilance in the protection of
the fish and game, We will soon have
none to protect. Some men SCOT at
the idea Of game and fab being de-
Stroyed, and contend that there will
always be plenty. To such upreason.
able ones will state one fact which /
defy them to disprove. This fall not
one rabbit can be found, where last
year one hundred could be seen
almost ct glance. l refer now 10
the scene Of the great rabbit slaughter
on the Sand Ridge. 1t will be re-
msmbered that about 5000 rabbits
were killed during the months of Oc-
tober and November of last year. In
passing over the same ground day
or two since party Of four saw three
rabbits, only. You can't keep the
cake and eat it too"
Now is the time for sportsmen 10
decide whether they will stand by the
efforts OF the Protective Society or
not, and it occurs to me that it would |
be good idea for the society to open
say three subscription lists,s one at |
the Office OF the secretary, end |
the other two at Csrter's and
Heusser's gun stores, or some
other suitable places, so that
honorable sportsmen who fee,
that it is right to prosecute these
offenders may sign the roll and con-
tribute the sum OF 25c. and upwards
so as to make prosecution general on
the part of the sportsmen, whose
moral and financial aid will thus be
brought to bear against these illegal
proceedings. and the effect must be
felt.
By the bye, the stream in Psrley's
Csflon is said TO be heavily charged
with sawdust. This is against the
law and should be stopped. Charley
Morell, one of the owners of the mills,
admits that it is wrong, but other
parties interested seem to make light
of the matter, and thus it continues.
This should be attended to or the fish
will soon be destroyed.
The matter in regard to the fish
spearipg is in the hands OF the Fish
and Game society, and their action
will be watched with interest should
Judge from the remarks OF sportsm en-.
The laws directly bearing upon these
subjects are as follows:
SECTION 2196.-Every person who at
any time takes or catches any fish, ex-
cept with hook and line shall
be deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor.
SEC. 2l9S.-Every person who puts
into the waters Of this territory any
poisonous OF explosive substance, OF
anything which is injurious TO fish, OF
that renders the water unfit for household
purposes, is guilty OF q misdsmeanor.
SEC. II Except in cases where diff
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