The record-union., 1894-11-16
Restriction of Market Hunting.

Restriction of Market Hunting.
EDS. RECORD UNION: l have noted
what has appeared in your paper of late
on the subject of a wholesome restriction
of market shooting, and from my own
experience and observation l can say that
your position is the correct one.
Down in the San Joaquin Valley, where
l have lived, nearly all the best hunting
grounds are now controlled by a few
associated market hunters. One man
alone has thirty thousand acres leased,
which embraces all the good duck ponds
in one county. He hires few Portuguese
to 10 the killing, while he rides about
and orders OFT the mammoth preserve all
persons who may be found seeking a
chance to do a little shooting.
The markethunters are the pioneers in
the matter OF mOnopOliZing hunting
grounds. They have been at it for many
years, and now the only way by which
ordinary citizens can enjoy little shoot
ing IS TO club together and lease small
ponds here and there whenever they can
manage to get in ahead OF the profess
SionaiS.
Ii anyone doubts the truth Of the asser-
ton that unrestricted mark ct hunting
IS generally Objectionable, let him IN
CURE at any gunstOre. There he will
learn that it - the citizen sportsmen-
men engaged in all kinds OF employment
or DuSineS6-w hose trade is OF any value
to retail dealers.
by their wastetul methods a few mar
ket-hunters spoil the shooting for miles
around city or town, and thus restrict
the opportunities Tor the average citizen
10 shoot little game. They buy cheap
ammunition 10y the wholesale, use guns
OIL Illegal dimensions, and, IN the case of
quail, trap them by the hundred.
But tor The trade of the townsmen tho
dealers III spOrtsmen's goods cOuld not
maintain their stores IL month in the year.
There Is no danger OF there being any
lack OF game for those who depend on the
market for such as they may wish for
their table. Restriction will simply COM
peIl the professional hunter to keen
within reasonable limits and to observe
the law.
There is great deal of clap-trap being
indulged i'll about some mysterious dam
ger OF law that will give rich men aq-
Nantages over poor men. What the Leg
lslature should do-and what II probably
Will dos to make a more stringent law
Tor the protection of the wild game of Tie
State. and 10 provide some et1ectuaI
means Tor enforcing its provisions 1t
should not stop TO consider who may be
aHected, nor whether they be rich or
poor.
The rich man, if be likes to 20 afield
once III while, is entitled to Just the
same rights as the poor man, no moro
anG no less. In this matter, as in all
others, it's poor law that does not in
sure equal privileges TO each citizen, and
there does not appear TO be any occasion
Tor the fear that there will he any class
legislation. Such laws would be uncon-
sututIonal, and would not stand day.
ihere are now very stringent laws for
the restriction Of market fishing, and it
costs the State big sum OF money to paw
officers TO keep the fishermen some
where within the lines laid down.
For all that the fish laws are daily
violated. Ii the business of fishing
for market requires to be restricted
Is there not just as much neces-
sity for legal restriction on the game
hunters? II there is any difference it
should be pointed out by the now unre-
strlcted market shooters or those who
champion their cause.
JUST PLAIN SPORTSMAN