The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
NORTH WOODS POACHERS.
MOUNTAINEERs WHOM THE GAME
Law DOESN'T RESTRAIN
They Believe In venissn and Trout Out of
the season, and Give their Rensons-Re-
spectacle nnd vngnbsnd Penchers.

lney HcUeve IN VcnVson ANA front Ont OF
the season, and Give their Rensons-Re-
spectacle md vnenbsnd Preachers.
NoRrHwooD, Feb. 1s.-Posted conspicu-
ously In every country store and hotel barroom
in tho Adirondack region, and not infreauently
on the inside OF the school-room doors, may bc
found n stout sheet OF paper, bearing, printed
In coarse tyne. an abstract Of the game laws of
tho State OF New York. The abstract is usually
made by some good lawyer, and Is then printed
and posted at the expense Of some sporting
club or association. Tho one most frequently
met by the traveller hersabouts Is posted by
the Utica Fish and Game Protective Associu-
/ tiop. 1t Is headed "Game Laws, State OF
New York." Then follows the heading. Acts
Absolutely Prohibited ut all Times" Under
this heading, as a sample Of tho paragraphs,
may be found this one. Unlawful to
kill at any time. Moose, fawn in spotted cont:
penalty, $50. 500. Also misdeineanor." In
brief but easily understood paragraphs tho
reader IL told during what timo and IN what
manner he may and may not kill every sort OF
/ game and fish found in this region, md what is
not game. The farmer md the woodsman who
goes into the store or barroom Is pretty sure
while there to lounge up to the place where the
abstract is posted, glance at 1t, and walk away
nGain. II the time for killing or taking some
sort Of game has about expired, or is about TO
OI0n, 10 III likely 10 Iuuke SOInB TenurK ABOUT II.
Ell wanter cat any more rarbit pie 1 gotter
stir round. eh2 Times mos up" Then he
smiles and winks knowingly. won't be long
atore We ken palnper our appetites with a mess
o%'trout. Boon so long sence l see a trout l mos
forgot how they look" Two winHs. this time.
They say suckers been runnin' In West
Creek pretty liberal for q month. Ketch any?"
some one will ask.
Suckers? Ya-as. speared one through tho
th't weighed a poun' n a quarter"
or course the suckers had the most beautiful
bright spots on their sides that ever decked
any fish. and in spearing such suckers tho law
prohibiting the taking OF trout through tho ice
was violated. The truth Ia. tho abstract OF tho
game laws which appears posted so conspicu-
ously would not be worth a match to set 1t on
fire but for one sentence. which, however. is
neror emphasized by black-iaced tvpe. as it
ought to be, perhaps. That sentence is: Per-
SONS giving information OF violation are enti-
tls Leg. upon conyiet!?n OF tho offender. to ono
i have yet TO lind the man, rich or poor, in
this part Of the state who cared q straw for
air. airai saa Oh that lsw prJ vi ' { wt of the 9 iaw vh Th Sa msn
who Kills, y deer out Of season is liable to u
penalty Of 800, and n half of that sum. II ex-
acted. is enough to make Il good many men up
this way give away their neiGhbors. let alone
tho gunners who should venture here from
sion the lumber bosses would DO ut small ex-
pense for meat for tho gangs. that they send
son Killed, on a Sunday by the hunters in the
gangs 70 last all hands tho rest OF. the week
md more, too only where n gang Of fifteen or
twenty men Is gathered together from no one
there viii be a Judas among them" as one
man expressed 1t the, other day.
1t will be observed that the man who de-
sires to see the game, law enforced is called a
ii in those eases .ss Wh M@e'1 a G mann nPpir ntormed fo on iis
the penalty; or Tor tho sake Of ,Wreaking
nvow in advance that he favored enforcing the
game lazy ard would serve rs witness against
camp too warm for his comfort within a week.
RAt. IN spite of he terror and hatred inspired
here t"s for i"'S anH ie IT II p ot Pim ae s sne w as3s lives Sss
Iuainted with the people that the law, Restraints
boaening; put by no means rtonipits il; 1t
sale slaughter tor the benefit of lum Der camps.
perhaps. 1t compels the poacher to start for
in the !s night. .iG But It It dEoes not y prevent etP the traps
per FROM using %venison to bait his traps nor
son whenever he wants fresh meat. I have
talked With u good many men who make no
ssSt Tloi amon XII iaf iaw Rsi aithons e, e ot co 5Sssen fSs
When they Talk ,candidly about the law thoy
II a serious rronosition were hade to repeal
the law the entire population Of this section
r Ho%;l po i Hs III hoh pdiaSs the pro test : They The;
know very well that tho law makes game moro
hsS". + "a and ni' ths city ty0 s merhaS nao out Of the the
woods EXCEPT in the open season. But as for
himself, the poacher says. as one said yester-
for the dude ,sportsmen from New York;.
and DAT a ss SS" o naSs ,as sy% TO kI fIF ass al n f he S dPss
season. because you are a better woodsman;"
work to do all through the deer season that I
could not afford to leave. Must not have a
| poor to leave work when / can get 1t? Besides,
needs a little fresh meat, and the nearer It is
to spring the handler i # seems zen, to have a saddle
But don't you see that by killing a doe, as
In February or March, You not only destroy
that doe: but you prevent We the birth OF afawn
don't your Well. where's the differences, so far
October or March? l don't object to the law.
! you understand; it keeps the dudes away and
20 without a mess OF trout or q venison steak
Just because cant leave my work whom the
"Don't tho dudes you speak about help the
souptry by leayine some money in it-a good
that the more game there is hero tho more city
chaps will come here, and that one city CHIP
Wax th m0f ha mfS q aSz sn'1 ds sas k kH%li' o mt Of oPs seas
son are worth. But tho dude is not Of SO much
value to the country as the paDers would have
us believe: he is very frequently a bad citizen
who puts all sorts Of notions into the heads OF
ter. l can't take city bonrders. but, having IL
family Of girls. | wouldn't If could. But sup
posing my neighbor or the community is bene-
fitted some by the boardcrs. must | go without
venison on that account? The community
won't give me any great share of tho benefit
unless work Tor my share. | reckon, until |
have 10 so on the own. Then there's. the law
about netting trout. WHAT'S the difference
whether l take a painful Of trout with Il net and
and lot them spoil. us ! saw two New York gem
tlemen do in tho season last SPRING. MI.
maj who thus argued in favor OF violating tho
game law that no would not have repealed is
the west side OF the mountains. He fishes and
hunts on, OF season every year. using what le
dividing with a %neiChbor or two whom he can
trust. He would probably hang before he
would turn informer. 1t would be very din
cult even TO- got him to Hppear against two
such city fellows a. came up to Grant from
Titan ln.t fnII mud ayplola1 n dynamite car