The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1894-08-02
PROTECT OUR fish AND GAMEl

Having received the appointment from
Gov, Thornton of Fish Warden for Lin
coin county, desire to state to the pub
lie that l have gone to no little trouble
and expense to have the law printed in
very substantial and attractive form
which | propose to have posted at the
various public places throughout the
county, as we'll as along the several
streams where trout are to be found
My principal reason for doing this is to
give each and every one ample opportu-
nifty Of familiarizing himself with
the law so that hereafter you may have
no reasonable excuse fol saying Il was
ignorant of the law and know nothing
of its requirements" Acts for the pro-
lection of game and fish were passed by
the Legislature of 1880, that for the latter
having been modified to some extent in
1885, and although it is the duty of every
County Commissioner, Sheriff and Con-
stable to see that the provisions Of these
acts are enforced yet in the many years
of my residence here | can not recall
single instance when an arrest has been
made fol the violation Of either of these
sections.
Is this because the laws were enacted
for no definite purpose? or is it due to
the citizens of this county having such
a profound respect for these particular
laws that they hesitate to break them?
l answer not by any means; for if ever
there was section of country where the
law for the protection of game and fish
has been totally ignored it is in Lincoln
county. AS all are aware the trout bear
ing streams of Lincoln county are almost
exclusively confined to one locality, the
White Mountains, and while this is the
case and our waters are limited, yet there
are sufficient streams If kept properly
stocked and the law observed to afford
an abundance Of fish for every citizen
within the county.
Although these fish are constantly be-
ing taken in ways other than legitimate
there is if possible greater wrong being
constantly committed by parties visiting
these fishing grounds and one perhaps
which has contributed more towards
bringing about scarcity of trout than
all others combined, and that is this;
they seem to be seized with foolish
desire to break the record in numbers of
some other party preceding them, and
the result is hundreds of little fish are
caught and carried to camp to be
y counted which otherwise would be
. thrown back, as they should be, and al
lowed to mature.
What could possibly afford one more
= pleasure when wearied Of labor, business
or professional cares than to spend few
! days amid the wilds of the grand ant
picturesque White MountainsY How
. delightful to the sportsman or angler q
l rambling along some swift dashinl
brook in the cool shadows of over hang
ing evergreens, he takes speckleC
/: beauty from the pure sparkling waters o
,s almost every pool Alasl how few OF Ii
.. appreciate these rare gifts of water-lik
other beauties, treasures or neglected or
% portunities, we seem to not realize thei
& value till We see them vanishing fror
d us forever. There are people In al
n states and communities whom the bel
d, ter class of citizens, and especial
sportsmen and anglers, have found
:" necessary to hold in check by passin
70 stringent laws for the protection OF gam
and fish. They are vultures in huma
form, having no appreciation OF th
)t pleasures 10 be derived from huntln
er or fishing at the proper time and in
10 Legitimate way-they Of course have n
respect for the rights OF others. II
they who would wantonly and durin
Ps close season shoot down Il mother de-
le or turkey and cause their little onos
le perish OF starvation and thus not on
r. | commit cOWHIulg tcti out aiao uVPii
g the true sportsman OF the pleasure
- - taking them at time when they woul
" be OF some size and value for food. 1t
IN this class too, who would sneakingly pla
u the deadly explosive in trout pool al
y cause the destruction Of everything larl
Is and small; or with pick and shovel tn
the course Of the stream and after d
II priving tho rare beauties OF every mca
s. of escape, scoop them up like 80 man
RS potatoes.
,e | ask Of the more ihoughfdl and {
= pecially do appeal to the true sporI
mau aud angler, shall this wan,on d
~ struction Of game and fish in and out
he senson be permitted to Rrow? Shall
he sit quietly and carelessly by aud see o'
selves robbed iu the faco Of tic law ma