The morning call., 1893-10-23
NO TRESPASSERS.
The Country Club Denies
a Wild RumOr.
Permits Cannot Be Granted to Outside
Sportsmen to Infringe On Its
Preserves.

A goodly contingent of Country Club
members enjoyed days sport yesterday
up on their game preserves in Marin
County. The keepers rejoiced over tie
large bags made by experts, the pretty
clubhouse was the scene of much jovlal
congratulatiOn, and all went merry as a
marriage-bell until the start for home.
On the threshold Of departure, however,
the weary spOrtsmen were confronted with
a startling rumor, which revived them 70
indignant amusement. 1t was TO the
effect that Mrs. J. Hamilton, administra-
trix of an estate forming part of the clubs
preserve, had actually leased strip Of
her land to tenant without including in
the lease prohibtory clause against the
tenant fishing or hunting.
The "outside" sportSmeu were gleeful,
seeing in this an opportunity to partci-
pate in the clubs richly stocked domain as
invited guests of the privileged tenant.
But the club members laughed.
Fred r. Webster, president of the club.
explained the situation clearly.
Our place." said he, comprises 10000
acres. embraced in the property of Charles
Webb Howard and the estates of o. L..
Shafter and Judge Mem. Shafter. The
land is cut up into small dairy farms. from
thirty to thirty-fiye in number, occupied
chiefly by industrious Swiss, who never
cared for sport, nor have time for il. But
the land suffered from $4,000 to 500, 600
worth Of damage yearly IN the past
through irresponsible Sportsmen and
campers, who broke down fences. letting
cattle astray. or who started vast forest
fires very destructive 10 property.
"These considerations caused the own
ers to give us a lease of the property. 1t
was granted on the covenant that we pro-
campers and poachers. We have had it
three years, have employed three to five
keepers all the year To patrol the place on
horseback, and have succeeded in giving
the required protection.
But in drawing the lease Mr.. Howard
insisted that tenants rights should be
clearly defined. He said that though the
tenants themselves would not shoot. some
OF them had friends in cities who were in
the habit of coming out on Sundays at
their invitation and slaughtering birds by
ali means in their power, SpOrtSmanlike
and otherwise. He pointed out that our
keepers would not be able to distinguish
between these outsiders and our mem bers
and endless controversies would ensue.
Consequently he had put in our lease that
no tenant should be allowed to shoot or
fish, and clause TO that effect is also in
serted IN every tenants lease
Everything has gone on pleasantly.
The tenants thoroughly understand the
advantages derived through our protective
measures and have never gwen any
trouble OF course we can grant permits
ourselves. and in several cases have done
so. Cns tenant on an extreme point of the
estate near the ocean has the privilege of
shooting ducks and in return protects the
quail from chance pothunters and the deer
from Indians, with whom we used to be
troubled.
But on Sundays there is always large
force of city sportsmen who go up to Point
Reyes, especially for fishing, the best OF
which, outside our stocked ponds. lies be-
yond our limits. These sporIsmen caught
up the rumor about Mrs. Hamilton's ten
ant having special privileges. and as it was
growing when we came down, it has prob
ably assumed by this time all the plausible
prorOrtionS of true statement. Even if
the probibitnry clause was omitted from
the tenants lease it would not affect the
matter, as our rights are uDmistakably de-
fined in our own lease. There is abso-
lutely nothing in the rumor."
The estate over which Mrs. Hamilton
exercises the powers of administrative en-
braces from $4,000 to 10000 acres.