The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-06


Pot Hunters and Dynamiters.
The day of the pot" hunter and dy-
Mantle fisher is drawing to close In
this particular region. The farmers
and true sportsmen all over this coun-
ty and in the neighborlng counties of
Monroe and Wayne are rising up in
righteous indignation to protest against
the nefarious work Of these despoilers
of the wood and stream and If string
emily enforced law will have the effect
of putting a stop to their base prac-
tices, these practices will be stopped.
Two game and fish associations with
in the past few weeks have been char
tered in this county and another is
before the courts with an application
for charter. In Wayne county Il num-
Der of such associations have existed
for a long time ard others are in
process of Incorporation. The same Is
true of Monroe county only the move
ment in the latter place is more general
and energetic than in it's northern
neighbor.
The associations that have existed
have confined their work within selfish
| limits to a more or less degree. They
were satisfied to lease a pond, stream,
| or woodland, or all as the case might
| he, and stock it for their own uses,
religiously guarding their immediate
preserves against intrusion but doing
! little or nothing in q general way to
| enforce the laws against Illegal hunt
ing and fishing.
| BROADER FIELD OF WORK.
The new movement, for it is such,
contemplates a broader field of work.
Its first object is the prevention of the
total destruction of game and fish In
this county. Secondly, it proposes to
| replenish the supply and nurture pro-
| pagation in all the available streams
and woodlands. Thirdly, It will seek
| as reward for itself and as an en-
| couragement to membership in the as
sociations, 60 establish private preserves
| where game and fish may be taken un-
der proper restrictions.
| The associations do not promise to
throw open their preserves to the gen.
eral public, or even to allow any but
members to enjoy the privileges, but
it is safe to presume that men actuated
by such commendable motives as these
will not abuse any franchise which the
state may give them.
The first of these local associations
recently formed was the Glenburr
Game and Fish association, which se'
cured a charter through Attorney II
G.. Reynolds. The locality in which il
proposes to work is indicated by its
name. Last week, through Attorney X
II. Holgatc, the Griffin Lake associa
tion secured charter. The Moscow
Fish and Game association is the lates
| to organize and it's attorney, H. c
Reynolds, now has an application il
court for Il charter.
MEMBERS OF THE CLUBS.
The membership of these clubs /
made up mostly of farmers, but eacl
assoca ton has many city sportsmel
on it's rolls. In time the membership
aud privileges will be extended and tn
power for good in consequence in
| CrC Cased.
, Two of the great obstacles to eflica
: CIous work along the line followed b
such associations have been remove
by the adoption of new ideas in tn
natter of stocking the preserves. Thes
obstacles were decisions by the Su
preme court that any stream stocke
,. with fish from the public hatcherie
was open to any taxpayer, arguing tina
inasmuch as he paid his share toward
the support of the hatcheries, he wa
9 entitled to partake in the pleasure g
c profit of retaking the fish from the pull
lie streams. The other obstacle was
= decision along the same line to the e
feet that while pursuing these public
fish, a person was not liable for tres
| l. 10 IN
+ age.
To overcome these obstacles the as
r sociations are Incorporating in the
= charter a provision emitting them
. propagate their own fish and gam
. They will build hatcheries-small one
l. will sutfce-and import English phea
y ants and other game on their own az
. count. Then they will lease woodland
" streams and ponds as they may see fl
and being sole owners of eVerythin
the state will have nothing to say {
to who shall or shall not fish or hun
on the preserves.
II ASSOCIATION WILL PROSECUIl
n An obstacle to a strict enforcemel
p of the law will also be removed by tn
81 concerted action. Heretofore farme
m and sportsmen hesitated about pros
cutting violators Of the law because Il
Of position of the prosecutor in such
,a case is always an odious one, partic'
h. lGrly when the one to be prosecuted
10 a neighboring farmer, as Is a freQue
40 occurrence. Now the association W
g. he the prosecutor and the whole ma
ter will be attended to by paid agent
Of such as their warden or attorney.
j, The Moscow association intends
he lease a large tract of land includil
of farms, woodlands and barrens, and
go into the matter on a large scale.
time they hope to have game and fl
as plentiful between here and the rid
of the Pocono as it is anywhere in I
country.