The record-union., 1891-01-18
osE-FoURTH OF A MILE 1.oNa-

ONE-FOURTH OF A MILE LONG.
And from about fifty to 200 yards wide,
and SC densely packed that the ground
could not be seen. Can some of the read
ers of the REcoRD-UNIoN calculate how
many hundred thousand of these ducks
there were in this swarm? 1t will be inn
possible for many years to come to thin
out their numbers.
Advancing civilization is the best agent
we can get for this purpose.
In the meantime the farmer needs all
the protection we can give him, and
alize the fact that the farmer is
of more use to us than fewaducks. Now,
dear reader, the issue in this little dispute
is between the farmers OF the valley and d
few sports who live in the cities. These
fellows want the ducks so plentiful that
they can shoot them for sport without
getting out of their carts or Gurney cabs.
This is all right enough as far as it goes,
but what have they done for this priv
ilege?
Let us see.
He hires gun from the gunsmith
and buys a lot of shells. Then he buys a
flask or two of whisky from the rum
shop, and he is ready for his Sunday
work. Outside of any little work he
does through the week, he is of no use to
any one, unless on election days, when he
is wanted to vote. Now, dear reader, let
me ask what has the farmer done that we
should protect him? He has built up
our cities. He has raised the grain that
the ''ballee'' eats and that loads up the
immense fleets of vessels that sails from
our ports to every part of the globe. He
furnishes the bulk of trade to support
these cities. He employs thousands OF
idle hands, and our railroads would have
a slim purse if it was not for the farmer.
Is there any comparison between these
two classes? Then lett us be careful how
we pass laws to ajnjure him. He is a
giant, and he hardly knows his own
strength yet; but we must not trample
on him, and you, gentlemen, who have
the making Of our laws, see that no law
on game is passed to injure the men who
have placed you in power to protect their
interests, and see that no law is passed to
injure them or hinder them or their
friends (the huntersl from using their
guns to suit themselves. This State has
only one market to supply, and that is
San Francisco. The other cities are only
local markets, and the game laws now in
force are sufficient protection for our
game birds and
NO NEW LAW IS REQUIRED,
And as a landowner and taxpayer, for
one protest against any new law that will
injure the farmer or his friends (which is
me), and as tor sporting matters there is
very little to be done on the ''overfiow''
at present. The birds do not fly. The
most OF them are up on the mud1iatS near
Pritchard's Lake, where they can be
found in countless numbers. But the
sport does not bag many of these BIRDS
They are too wary. But he manages to
get away with the contents of his whisky
flask in good shape, you bet, and l sup
pose he is satisfied.
Some enterprising sport found his way
into my game room about week ago and
had real good sport bagging about ten or
twelve brace OF teal and widgeon in a
short time, and now huge paddock
adornS the door-mOre suggestive OF
dynamite than safety. These pleasant
little affairs break up the monotonous
life of a hunter and make il more en-
durable; bat perhaps, dear reader, you
think there is nothing but whisky sports.
| That is wrong idea.
| There is another class that we call
gentlemen sports. These pleasant fellows
are always welcome to the hunter and
farmer alike. You see, being gentlemen,
they do not break the fences or shoot the
stock, or take sly shot at a pig, and they
do not pack home some tame ducks or
geese and then blow about the way they
knocked 'em.' They just behave like
gentlemen, and if they make any mistake
it is corrected promptly and pleasantly.
In nay long career of hunting 1 have
known many of them nice, pleasant fel-
lows. They were always welcome in my
hunting camp. Who has forgotten An
thony, of the RECORD UNION, Il gay old
| gentleman sport as ever lived? Why, he
had d heart as big as wheelbarrow. And
there We're others just like him, and il
| you think there are no sports of this kind
| left you are mistaken, God bless them!
| And now, dear editors, you, who have
been always on the side of justice and
truth, how shall 1 thank you for youl
kindness in allowing me the use of youI
columns to defend myself and the farm
ers, VINO are your and my friends
Perhaps, by saying as little as possible
But out of the heart proceedeth many
things that are good, even if they dc
sound a little spiteful. God bless you,
sirs; yes, God bless everybody in the
no, | don't mean that, because Billy
Hamilton is in the world yet. But then
there is a big black ''X'' opposite his
name on Saint Peter's big book, and when
Billy tries to get into heaven, old Peter
| (not me, but Saint Peter.) will say mo-
and will tell him to go back and get
aboard Tom Clark's cigarette fiend train,
and go to the other place-that is, if they
will let 'em III down there.
PETE ST. CLAIR.