The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12

the slaughter OF deer. during this high wator,
sPTFE s thS oos rpTs SssS f9
to every little ole"ation where thcy were safe
from DROWNING This concentration wa,
a1ailed OF to slaughter thom in q pure spirit OIL
wantonnass or Us mere tosts Of excellence In
marksmanship; There Y nnothor G cnston,
That is the lire.lightnc OF woGdcock Where
sT% With Ell e them
alright and knock Thorn oyer with sticks. The
Sc ore 81 o and es
OF the supply as to the number which may be
taken in u single night: Possibly this method
! Ria: II SO tho Game Protective As .ociatIon OF
that state has the, ,orportunity OF putting an
| count for the annual decrease in the number
of woodcock. which Is apparent to all who In
| dulge In the shooting OF that bird.
Attention was called In TIE Sun last
| autumn to the exceptional gray squirrel
shooting which was offered in October and n
| portion OF November In many Of tho Northern
and Western States. 1t was explained at the
time that this was due to an unusual migra-
| ton northward OF these rodents from Tennes-
see and Arkansas during the previous spring
| This year there was no movement OF gray
squirrels toward higher ATTITUDES. This
will account for the scarcity this autumn
| which is noted in all directions. No plausible
reason has been advanced for the mi
grafton at irregular intervals OF these
rodents. They appear to remain quiescent
for years. when. acting upon no explainable
when they scatter over large area OF terri
tory. breed. ind then reunite for the journey
wheh from sno follow PRES
scribed course until they attain to certain
degree OF latitude. when tho moving columns
disinteCrate These migrations occur ut such ir-
regul lar intervals that no systematic effort has
ever been made to chart the line OF travel with
nnar nnnhf TNt. pAF,, lt.n, Ia
appears to absorb the larger. portion, but New
York, Vermont New Hampshire and Ohio are
populated with squirrels by the impulse.
The law which was passed at the last ses-
sion OF the Minnesota Legislature. forbiddinG
the killing OF moose. caribou. and elk for n
period OF five years. is likely to be to q great
extent imperative owing to the location Of the
Red Lake Indian reservation. which is stu
ated in tho northern portion Of tho State. This
tract is 20 miles long and l 90 miles wide. and
includes within its boundaries the very best
moose. caribou. and elk range in tho North
west. Mr.. G. o. Shields, a correspondent OF
Forest and Stream. describes the slaughter
OF these animals by the Indians. Twice every
year. in June and September. the chief OF the
Red Lake tribe sends out band OF his best
young hunters with orders to start Gordon OF
fire around the entire reservation and in as
much outside territory as is good game
range At these seasons the prevailing winds
are from west and south. The Indians form
woods and Rainy River. Within few days
the fires have travelled noTh and east and the
slaughtered like SO many beef cattle. Much
Of the meat Ia saved. but thousands Of pounds
many Of the carcasses. only the hides arc arc
taken. 1t appears to be in doubt as to who has
Of moose. caribon. and elk on this Indian res
ovation in defiance of the laws Of the state.
obliged to maintain an attitude OF great re-
serve as informers. in order to keep their
scalps and save their buildings from the torch.
protected by the law are fast approaching ex-
termination.
The omission Of the word except" in the
law relating to wild fowl recently enacted in
Minnesota reversed the dates Of the open and
close seasons. Attention was called in The
Sun to this blunder at the time of it's commits
sion. The latestinformation in regard to this
matter is that the Attorney General OF tho
law was to name tho date OF the open season
for wild fowl from the LIST day of September to
whether this official has the right to interpret
the intent OF the statute in the face of Its ex.
to Of h ra
as the Western gunners are Very nimble In
awaiting themselves Of my bubble which will
open the way to the killing OF wild fowl or any
other game out OF season.
An instance OF tho decentralization which so
often overtakes the inexperienced sportsman
SO soon as he takes q gun in his hand is afford.
cd by shooting association. which. while en-
gagged in tournament in Pennsylvania. was
suddenly confronted with n flight OF night |
hawks. Instantly all OF the gums were turned |
large number Killed. according to section Is
Of tho Pennsylvania Game law 1t Is expressly |
to kill these birds. Here is presented |
~ NIT for m On, Va ~ ha
district to make a levy en- masse. The pur- |
ported name Of the offending organization; as
given in the american Eicid. IS the Schuylkill !
County Shooting Association.
The crusade which is now in progress in
England against the use of the plumage OF
birds for purposes OF feminine decoration has
not como too soon. IS this country has boon a
Eriovous sufferer ifSn the activity Of English
who have drawn from here their
principal supply of bril- skins and feathers.
From time TO tme the exact figures OF the
enormous contracts placed in all OF the States
Of tho Union By these British purveyors have
boon printed in The SUN. Certai n species Of
been almost eXterminated to comply with this
lemand Among the most interesting and
beautiful IS the little tern which once gave
such nm mir OF animation to our coastwi5e
bays This species has been wiped out OF ex.
hess t have BEEN H 5" nctrs
hat hardly any sort OF bird in this country
nns ESCAPED their attention. Fhe most serious
aspect OF tho case has been that the demand
or bird skins has always been more active in
he spring. when the plumage attans its
greatest brllliancy.
Came Warden Jonathan Darling OF Maine
ias attempted TO answer in ;he Rangor .Ne,rs
he accusations brought against him in that
ournal He says that tho ment served at his
amp was from deer killed by New York
nan." Il vague torn, which may cover Il wide
lorlzon Of turritude He confesses that no
'aid tho ilne eNacte4 by brother official: but
ais to state why lie did not hold the New
FORK man and mako him hsgorge. Mr.. BAR
ing claims that he Is not depressed by the
loud which is now resting upon his reputa-
lon. lie announces that h" Is, still living"
hattie i something OF II sailorman and is
rot afraid 10 face the big swells." What his
lbiiity rs u salOrmnn has to do with serving
ieer meat out OF season is a mystery.
1t is hardly necessary to speak OF a coincl-
lent decrease in the supply OF game and the
growing perfection Of all classes Of firearms.
This is n sef-evident proposition. A practical
application OF this fact recently came under
oh inp of ba xuritn H. |