The San Francisco call., 1896-08-29
THE GUN.
Grouse and Mountain Quail Shoot
inE-lnanimate Targets.

Grouse and Mountain Quail Shoot
ing-Inanimate Targets.
The Pacific Tournament Association
Will meet tomorrow at the shooting
grounds, Alameda Junction, where inani-
mate targets will be used
On September 6 the California Wing
Club viii shoot at San Bruno; Septembe
the Fresno Gun Club will hold a tourna-
ment at Fresno, and on the same day the
Reliance Gun Club of Oakland will have a
free-for-au shoot at its grounds in Ala
media. September Is the Olympic Gun
Club will meet at Alameda Point and on
the 18th the Alameda, County Sportsmen's
Club will hold a shoot at Alameda juno
ton. On the 20th the Golden State Gun
Club will smash clays at Alameda Point,
while the Reliance Gun Club will hold
forth at the Webster-street grounds.
Sportsmen will be pleased to learn that
occasionally a Deputy Fish ommissioner
pays some sttenaicn to the game inter-
ests. Recently John b. Sammi, popular
sportsman, received at his place of busi-
ness on Sacramento street a bunch of
grouse from friend who is enjoying va
cation In the mountains. as messenger
boy was on his way TO Mr.. Sammfs resi-
dence with the game in question a Deputy
Fish Commissioner intercepted him on
Davis street and inquired of the boy
where he was going with the quail"
The lad at first refused to be interviewed
but when the deputy displayed his badge
an answer quickly followed which was
not satisfactory TO the game warden, who
marched the boy to the headquarters OF
the Fish Commission. which is in the
Flood building. Chief Deputy Baocoek
explained to his assistant that the birds
which the messenger-boy had in his pos
session were grouse, and that the season
when those birds can be lawfully killed
opened on tie 10Th inst. and viii close on
February Is.
The deputy proved, however, that he
had an eye out for business, and in case
the messenger-boy had been engaged by a
commission house TO deliver the birds to a
purchaser the evidence of conviction would
be sufhcient-that is according to an act
relating to the sale OF grouse, which reads
as follows:
Every cold-storage company, and every per-
son keeping cOld-storsge warehouse. tavern,
hotel, restaurant or eatlng-house, and every
marketman or other person who shall buy
sell, expose or offer for sale, in this State, any
quail, bob-white, partridge, grouse, dove or
wild duck, whether taken or killed in the State
OF California, or shipped into the State from
any other State, Territory or foreign country,
except between the fifteenth day OF November
and the fifteenth day Of January of the follow
ing year, shall be guilty OF q misdemeanor.
But there is another section of the game
law that refers specially to cold-storage
hotel-keepers and maTketmen which some
what tangles up the meaning OF the law,
that is, so far as the season for the sale OF
grouse is concerned. and it is as follows:
Every cold-storage company, person keep
ing afcold-storage warehouse, tavern or hotel
keeper, restaurant or eating keeper,
merketmsn or other person, who shall buy,
sell, expose or offer for sale, or give away, or
have in his possession in this State, any quail,
bobwhite. partridge, pheasant, grouse, dove
or wild duck, during the time it Shall be un-
lawful TO kill such birds, whether taken or
killed in the State of California or shipped
into the State from sny other State. Territory
or foreign country, shall be guilty of misde-
meanor.
1t will be noticed that in this section
the words, ''during the time it shall be
unlawful to kill such BIRDS, would infer
that grouse can be sold now, as the grouse
season opened on the 18th inst. Evidently
the game law is in very tangled -p state
and it is NO wonder that Judges and Jurors
are puzzled when they are called upon to
decide questions which the trainers of the
law are themselves unable 10 answer.
Mr.. Sammi got the birds all right, but
he had to pay the messenger 20 cents over
time, bill for which he proposes forward
ing to the honorable Board of Fish Com
nissieners-Messrs. Emeuc, Murdoch,
Morrison and Babcock.
Billy VI AlusO1n O1uD
has built very comfortable hunting ark
which will be anchored in Midshipmans
slough Sonoma marshes, during the duck
shooting season. Murdoch will have as
his shooting companions two memb bers OF
the Lincoln Gun Club.
Donald McRae is making very extensive
preparations for the duck-shooting season
IN the Suisun marshes. He has engaged
one of the most commodious and comforta-
Bile arks on the bay for the season and will
be glad to have many visits from his
friends and sportsmen when the season
opens. There are sleeping compartments
in the ark for ten persons and it goes with
out saving that every bunk" will have
hunter on the opening day OF the season.
McRae is thoroughly conversant with the
best shooting ponds of the Suisun marshes.
Cliff Wiegel, who returned recently from
the McCIoud River says that trout fishing
is good and that during his outing in the
mountains with Sam Estman eleven deer
were killed and one large brown bear.