The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-04-26

| lars nor more than twenty-five dol
lars and costs of prosecution, or by
Imprisonment in the county jail for
not less than ten days nor more than
thirty days for each and every fish so
caught, taken, killed, had in posses
| sion or under control"
Again addressing the prisoners the
court said that they had violated the
law most egregiously. They had TAX
en- every advantage known to the in
genuity of man toviolate it. He then
fined them the lowest amount per-
mitted by law, SO for each fish, or ten
days in Jail for each fish in default of
payment of the fine-in all, $50 each
or sixty days each. at the request of
the county attorney, he construed the
law so that they could divide the fine
of $50 between them, but they would
have to serve sixty days each if they
went to jail. The costs were So 65 in
each case, which was also assessed
against the prisoners.
Under the law, one-half of the
fines collected go to the person max
ing the complaints, which is Mr. Men
denhall, in this case.
Mr.. Mendenhall stated to a FREE
PRESS reporter Friday that he
intends to keep on in the work that
he has begun, and will strictly enforce
the law. He took trip up the Mime
sofa river early this morning, before
daylight, on the west side, and found
some evidence that may be used
against other parties. In speaking of
the OlsOns, he said that they had
fished all day with seine, which
cleans the river out of fish and makes
the sport poor for those who fish in
the ordinary way.
County Attorney Benedict states
that the law is very severe. Under
its provisions person cannot fish
with more than one hook on the line,
and this makes it unlawful to use a
spoon hook, which has generally three
hooks. A spoon hook also falls under
the ban Of the law as artificial bait
However, this part Of the law will not
be enforced, as it is unreasonable, and
perhaps it would be impossible to Sc
cure convictions under it,
Barney Olson states that he had not
used the seine before yesterday. 81
have heard" said he, "that there is a
law on the subject, but while some
people have told me this, others have
said that the law was repealed. 1t
seems to be an unreasonable law, as
the fish that do not run down the
river get frozen in winter and the
poor people ought to have the use of
them. am poor man and live be-
tween Minnesota and Poplar streets
| had some money, but have been
sick and spent it all. Being out of
work yesterday I thought l would
catch some fish and sell them in town.
l am no relation of Paul Olson, who
lives in Madelia. He came to the
city a few days ago on a visit with
some friends, and he went along with
me. We tished all day, starting in
below the LeSueur river bridge and
| fishing down to near the Cement
works. We got a small boat load of
| fish, mostly suckers and Sleeps head,
and no pike. Paul Olson is a single
man. We will have to borrow the
money if we pay the fine"
The two Olsons were unable to raise
the amount of their fines, and were
committed to jail for sixty days.
More Arrests.
| Thursday Mr.. Mendenhall caught
three boys and two men fishing along
the bank of the Minnesota river, near
the bridge, and using two, three and
four hooks on a single line, III VIOLA
tion of the law. The boys were Peter
Nelson, Peter Westengard and another
whose name we did not learn. They
were taken before Judge Shissler and
were given a talking to, and then
were discharged, on Mr. Meudenhall's
recommendation.
Two men, G. V. McGraw and John
| Archer, are the names of 4he men
who were found violating the law.
| One of them offered the warden seven
| ty-fve cents to let him go, which
made the warden somewhat indig.
nant. Archer was up before the court
this morning, but was let off with a
reprimand. He had caught only
| three fish.
The following is the section under
which the boys and two men were
| taken:
mo person at any time shall lay,
set, use or prepare any, drug, poison,
lime, medicated bait, fish berries,
dynamite or other deleterious sub.
stance whatever, or lay, stretch OF
place any set or trot line, or any wire.
string, rope or cable of any sort hav-
ing thereto attached directly or indi.
rectly more than one hook, with in
tent to thereby catch, take or kill any
fish.
"Whoever shall offend against any
of the provisions Of this section shall
be guilty of misdemeanor, and shall
on conviction thereof be punished by
a fine of not less than fifty dollars mol
more than one hundred dollars and
costs of prosecution, or by imprison-
ment in the county jail for not less
than sixty days nor more than nine
ty days"