The San Francisco call., 1895-10-15
Clubs Determined to Defend
What They Consider
Their Rights.
THE sLoUGHs ARE BLoCKADED
AHlnt That Dynamite VIII Be Used
and Force Will Be Met
by Force.

ducks enough IN the markets tomorrow
to give half the City indigestion. But the
duck-hunters who went out last night were
not elated over the prospects of big bags.
In fact those who went to the Suisun
marshes felt more as if they were going to
war than hunting ducks.
Whether the battles they will fight will
be legal fights or Just the old shotgun sort
depends.
There were two sorts and sets of hunters
on the late boats-the aristocrats belong
ing to the gun clubs, and the larger class
that proposes to invade the preserves and
shoot ducks wherever they ind them.
Under law passed by the last Legisla-
ture the hunters not interested in preserves
claim that their title to the ducks on the
marshes is as good as anybody's, and they
intend to use the new privileges to the ut
most, and Just in proportion to the aggres-
siveness of these sportsmen the club men
will resist They say the law is unconsti-
tutional; that no Legislature can take from
them the exclusive privilege of shooting on
lands leased by them. The Teal Club has
blockaded the two sloughs that give en-
trance TO its preserve, and if the obstruc-
tions are not enough to keep outsiders
from the well-baited ponds deputy sheriffs
and gamekeepers will put in another check.
Among the men who do not belong to
the preserve clubs are several who have
said they would not be prevented from
shooting on the marshes. If they find the
sloughs blockaded they say they will blow
up the piles with dynamite, and will not
leave the marsh unless they are arrested
by the proper officers of the law.
OF course there is every probability that
the fight will be made in the courts. The
trespassers, so termed by the clubs, will
be warned off the marsh and, if they do
not go, will be arrested and the legal
rights of the case will be determined by
the Judges. But there is always grave
danger when young men with contrary
views and conflicting purposes clash.with
guns in their hands.
In past years the club wardens in order
to avoid court trials have contented them
selves with spelling the shooting for tres
passers. If a stranger came on the
marsh acouple of keepers were sent out
to keep track of him. Whenever a flock
of ducks threatened to come within range
these keepers would shoot and scare them
away. If this course is pursued to-day
there is a strong likelihood of trouble The
II
shall interfere with another mans shoot
ing, and when mans chances for bag of
ducks is deliberately spoiled he is very
likely to lose his temper and make things
warm for the spoiler.
The leader of the unattached sportsmen
in this fight is E. ]. Bell. He will make
the test tomorrow. He has established
an ark near Espinosa station and proposes
70 nfoiro ! al f0r 4hoa
datlon of men who like to shoot ducks and
cannot pay from one to three thousand
dollars year for the privilege.
He is on the marsh now. Quite number
of sportsmen went with him, and he says
he will protect his guests IN the enjoyment
of their sport, consequently he will be
the first man arrested for trespass
eve are going out to shoot ducks" said
one of Bells friends yesterday. 1--WE are
not going out looking for a fight or any
thing of the sort. We are law-abiding
men, and are only doing what the law
gives us right to do. We presume tha
the club men will keep within the law
themselves and not interfere with us. If
we find we are mistaken in this we Will act
accordingly. If We find navigable streams
blockaded we may remove the objections.
Colonel Mendell, the Governments
officer in the premises, has stated publicly
that the blockading of navigable slough
is a violation of the Federal law, punish
able by fine up TO $4,000 and imprisonment,
and we will prosecute any person who vio-
lates the law to our injury. Of course,
if any of US should find man in his own
blind by small pond we would not get
beside him and spoil his shooting; but if
one OF us got there first and was in posses
sion OF choice position we would ex-
pect our rights to be equally respected.
If the pond is big enough SO that more
than one can shoot without interfering we
will take the best position that is left and
anybody who attempts to prevent us will
very likely have cause to regret it. The
ducks on the marshes belong to no one
man or set of men. We do not iniure any,
body's property and we believe there is no
law to prevent US having our days shoot
ing, even if we cannot afford to belong to
luxurious clubs"
The Mallard Club that fought for the
privilege OF free shooting last year will
keep up the fight under the new law.
Charles w. Kellogg, president of the
Cordeia Club, in speaking of the right of
the club to the enjoyment of leased marsh
lands on the Suisun marsh. said: "The
position in which the Cordelia Club finds
itself is simply that of having to maintain
its rights to that which it has paid for and
to which it has just and legal claim. In
other words, we lease the lands over which
we claim the exclusive right to shoot.
We have leased them for some years. We
have gone on under our lease and made
certain valuable Improvements. We have
built about four miles of fence and gone
to other expenses which amount in the ag-
gregate to quite a handsome sum. We
lease these lands from the Chamberlain
estate and pay a rental for them.
Now, the question is a very simple one.
Will or will not the law protect US in the
enjoyment of our property? l have no
hesitation about that matter. There can
be no doubt but that we are justly and law
fully in possession of the land, and am
sure the courts will uphold us in the ex-
ercise of our rights. The injunction which
We obtained last year against trespassers