The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-06-16
AETER JULY FIRST.
Important Changes in the Powers and
Duties of Game and Fish Wardens,
and Other Changes in Fish and
Game Laws.

PErosKEY, Mich, June 5.
State Game Warden Hampton has is
sued the following circular regarding
what the legislature did in regard to the
fish and game laws:
To the Public:
In reply to many inquiries / would
state that none Of the bills making
changes in the seasons during which
certain fish may be caught and certain
kinds of game may be taken became
laws. The open seasons are as follows,
the same as under the laws of '91:
Deer, lower peninsula, from Nov. B to
Nov. 25 upper peninsula, between Sept.
25 and Oct. %. Wild turkey and quail,
Nov, to Dec. inclusive, upper PENN
sula Oct. to Jan. l.. Woodcock Aug. 10
to Dec. Is. Jacksnipe, red-headed,
blue-bili. canvass back, widgeon and pin,
tail ducks and wild geese between Sept.
l and Nav l. Other wild water fowl
and snipe between Sept. and Jan. /.
Prairie chicken protected until next year
then open season September and Octo-
Der. Speckled trout and grayling May
to Sept. l. :,
A great many local acts in regard to
fishing were passed, but the general fish
law recommended by the fishermen's as
ISOLATION and the fish commissioners,
the fish shute bill, and the bill prohibit
ing the fouling of fishing waters were
among the measures which were not
considered. There is therefore no use
of people writing about fish shutes or
saw dust in streams. A general law was
passed prohibiting entirely the killing
of Monaghan and English pheasants.
A very important change in the game
warden law takes effect July first 1t
continues the present system by allow
| ing three game and fish wardens in each
county, but they will be termed county
| wardens under the new law. The state
| warden is also authorized to appoint
| deputy wardens who can serve anywhere
| in the state. and who receive three dol
lars a day from the state for the work
they actually perform under his orders.
But as there can not be more than ten
deputies at any time, and as the whole
amount expended must not exceed two
thousand dollars a year, the office will
not be desirable from financial point
of view. The law will, however, enable
the state warden to have violations
promptly attended to when the circum-
stances wrrrant sending special deputy.
Under this new law it is made the
duty of every game and fish Warden in
the state to sieze all nets and fishing APP
paratuses found in use in violation OF
| law, and all game ETC., found in pos
session contrary to law, and dispose of
the same as the law may direct. Every
game and fish warden has the right to
arrest without warrant any person
caught violating the law, They also have
the right to search any person and eX-
anime any boat, conveyance, vehicle,
fish box, fish basket, game bag or game
coat, or any other receptacle for game or
fish, when he has good reason to believe
that he will thereby secure evidence OF
the vioaltion of the law and any him
drance or interference or attempt at him
drance or interference with such search
I and examination shall be prin1d fdcle ev-
idence of violation of the law by the
party or parties who hinder or Interfere
with such search and examination"
This unusual power was given the
wardens so that violators would be run
ming the greatest possible risk in trying
to evade the law. An officlous officer
could Of course make himself and the
law very objectional under this pro-
vision but if any law-abiding citizen is
ever needlessly annoyed under this
clause of the law, the obnoxious officer
will be Immediately removed If the facts
are reported to the state warden. 1t IS
of course expected that all law abiding
sportsmen and fishermen will assist the
wardens in the enforcement OF the law
upon others by cheertully furnishing
proof of compliance with the law them
selves, but except in imperative cases no
| forcibe searches will be made without
| 81. hinI no To-
vides for. 1t is important to note in
this connection that "any person who
| binders. obstructs or interfereS with, or
attempts to hinder, obstruct or interfere
with the said game and fish warden or
any deputy or county warden in the dis
charge of any of his Duties" is liable to
fifty dollars fine or thirty days in jail
These are stringent provisions, but no
one will have any occasion to complain
of them if they obey the law.
The only other important fish and
game law was "An act regulating the use,
possession, transportation and sale of
fish and game" It takes effect August
9th and forbids the shipment out OF the
state of "any of the birds, game or fish
or the killing, taking or having in pos
session of which is at any time or at all
times prohibited" 1t therefore applies
to grayling, trout and AL protected game
named above. Another section of the
act forbids the sale of the same during
the close season, and is framed to avoid
the objections which caused our supreme
court to overthrow previous law in
tended to secure this same object.
This law is considered OF great i'm
portab:a by aIi who have studied the
subject, for it restricts shooting TO the
open seasons by making it impossible
for the law.breakers to dispose of their
game A new compilation of the fish
and game laws will be issued in August.
CUAs S. HAMPTON