The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-15
FIGHTTy0 7RE FISH PTRA TEs.
NJ. B'nchrord Explains HE Opposi I'm to .
Proposed \ m~ nj me ut 10 tho Game Law.

NJ. Bnckford Explains HE Oppcsi Inn to .
Proposed Au,~ ndrsnt 10 iho Game Law.
Before the Legislature now In session II
ia proposed to bring an amendment to tho
Game law which looks all right on tho surface"
said Fish and Game Commissioner +. q. Black
ford yesterday" but II II is to be done the pub
lie ought to see what the result will inevitably
he. mean tho amendment limiting the sea-
son for the sa!o Of game. The amendment
allows dealer in game to sell all through
the coso season. provided. however. that the
gamo sold was killed In the open season
and Ia refrigerated until sold. Advocates OF
the bill pretend to say That the amendment
can and will be enforced but 1t can easily DO
shown that II cannot DO enforced. OF course.
strictly honest dealers will respect thu law, and
will not purchase game In the close season, but
II Is not reae onable to suppose that poachers
coming into market will hunt around 20 find
dealer who will not buy their booty. They
know whom to 20 to. Tho administration OF
the game laws, aside from what the local game,
cor stables and Police Justices do Is intrunted
to the stnte Fish Commis sion"rs. What lies
more in ths way Of the enforcement OF the law
than any other obstacle is tho local game con-
stable himse
Lest should be thought over anxious and
ignorant OF what am speaking. will give the
experience of hsh protect ors AS reported TO mo.
Theses are men appointed by Tho Fish Commits
s,oners TO watch waters where ilsh are tob pro-
tected. The usual method adopted by fish
pirates is to put in their nets ut night anu hide
them on land during the day. Tho law docs
not permit u game constable 10 seize net on
land. That ought to be rrmedied. This state
has laid out t2oo.ooO in propagating ti.h and
should have fuller powers and be better paid.
As to game ons'abi-s elected In small towns.
tho Fish Commissioners agents report that
they almost uniformly are elected to pre-
vent the enforcement, OF the =, game law;
Those men arc selected for the offico VINO VIII
be easy it'll the poachers. In other words. the
gam" law is unpopular because everybody VINO
can get ont into the woods wants to fish and
49,. 1, rny q ruIl v hos NAh n
| are Interested in getting an inefficient game
constable into Office generally succeed IN getting
to" too. s as ocers OF The law Even when they
| qualify they Wi not assist the Fish Commits
Police Justic, is found wno says that he does
| not believe n the game laws. md oven though
the game con-tnblos bring nsn pirates into
is 40 light that tho trial is n farce Generally
the agents have found it advisable to have their
isncs was not conmittei. This kind Of ,oppo,.
siti"n has been greatest away from the line OF
inalis nable right to Gsil At any me OF tho year
| when tho Commissioners agents went
among them last year aud posted circulars
| along tho hshwhys warming persons not to Gsh.
and Offering rewards for the destruction OF
nets and Tor ths detection 81 nIrnIsrs ,nS
| replaced. And this. although societies for the
protection Of fish were formed IN the inland
| and members Joined their efforts to those OF
the Comm ssioners' agents. Tn. principal Part
|
| times ngsnts camp tor a week on u river
| bank to catch u fish pirate at work. The
| pirates are shrevd men. md make 1t their
| business TO keen watch OF the agents and y
! they cannot watch them, thsir friends watch
for them. When the Office OF Fish Protector
was created In 1880. the protectors had to con.
| suit with District Attorneys and Sheriffs and
| hunt after violations. hut now most OF them
| get all they can attend to through omplaints
| sent by those who SUSPECT or know that lshing
| IL going on. The public is now on the side OF
the flsh protector. The trouble has been that
no one has asked the iishsrmrn to stop. That
has been tru" In remote rural localities On
the st. Lawrence River. however. last summer
many nets had to be taken at the mu22e OF the
revolver. On Lake Ontario. near tho great
summer resorts many poachers make enough
money in two months to keop them in idleness
for the remainder Of the year.
The most irritating violation OF the law In
tho vicinity Of this city is the capture Of striped
tnss under weight up the Hudson River II
not over eight ounces I'm weight they cannot
bs sold in open market from Jan. to June
without mourning a fine Of s25. Protector
Matthew Kennedy Is going nm and down the
river from Yonkors to Peekskill, and has de-
tec,ed 900 offenders. and secured their punish
m.n' yet they keep Mt IL fishing through the
Ice This II only nm outline OF the nature OF the
ohstrurtions mot with in enforcing the presen
law. ask whether IL Is reasonable To suppose
that with SO much money at stake, with prnc
ticaiy an open market for fish and game the
refrigeration OF game should be allowed. The
Gnme law might ~, we'll be abolished"