Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-09-04
TIE WOODS POLICE.
1HE WORK AND The WAYS Of THE
GAkiEkEEpERS.

Mo" VII" Watch Against Unlawful killing
OF Animals in Our Forest Tracts-1no
Friendly War Eetween Them and the
G"i'ie.-4Attenr;s AT Sharp Tricks
There are two kinds of backwoods-
men whom the traveller, or tourist,
meets when he enters the wilds-the
Guide. who makes his living by CON
Quoting camping parties and the game
Keepers or wilderness police OF the
latter The majority have bese guides
The advent of the gaMekeeter began
with the adoption Of laws for the pre-
servation of animal life in the forests.
He corresponds closely to the fores GERS
of Europe. being empowered by law 10
protect such game within his district
us comes Under the pronibitory act. His
POSITION is more difficult, however,
than that of his fellow official in the
Old World; his territory is larger. his
associations with those upon whom he
must keep watci closer, and his iso-
latlon from civilization more marked
10 be a g;imekeeper. Just in his deal
.n$s with his fellow woodsmen. re-
;tufes nerve and shrewdness; the
guides must be met on their own
around in Il country with which thew
Efe familiar. To circumvent the M is
40 small undertaking, nor do the laws
'alch make the back woods cons Ii BILE
.ccessary allow him too wide Il scope
II his operations
~ well-kEoWn game constable got
!pnn the track OF a camping PARTY
Which he had reason to believe were
hGot;ng deer out of season Coming
spoh their camp he found the cook en-
.iSed i'll roasting Il fat hauncll Of veni-
on. a complaint was entered against
ne party, but when the case came to
fial the lawyer for the defence asked
me gamekceEer II he could swear that
the roasted meat was not lamb. or a
leg of veal. Tie constable knew that
no lamb or veal was to be found in that
cart OF the woods where the party had
made its camp, but he could not swear
1t mad not been brought in with the
campers. Ninety-nine chances out of
hundred were that the meat was vcni
SON, but the defendants got of on the
one remaining point.
1t is the gamekeepers busy season
during the months of June. July and
the early part OF August. He m :lst be
ever on the alert for law breakers. His
territory may include tens of square
miles covered by the uubroken wilder
ness He must make his journeys on
root. fording streams. if he finds NO
boat at hand. sleeping where night
overtakes him, often trusting to the
good nature Of the guides to provide
himsef with a dinner, supper or Freak
ast such a life makes a good soid der.
ihl to 1t Is added Il native cunning ac-
tCircd.hy long months of practice. Be-
ng OF the guides i, is difficult for a
stranger to the Wilderness to distin-
Sulsh him from those whom it is his
business TO watch. In Appearance ne
IS us picturesque as his native wilds:
ne carries everywhere with him the at
noSEhere of the woods in which he
ives; he is bronzed. rough clad. and
withall good natured. and. with few
exceptions. goes about his work honest
~. Ibis reputation for fair dealing
goes far to make him a successful Of
fetal; the guides Will try to fool him
but they know their man and Under.
stand he means TO treat them square
~ But II the samekeeper seeks to
gain his ends through ire, As and
underhand dealings. he had better give
up his job and seek other fields; the
guides may be as cunning as he, and
innumtrable are the tricks played IN
IN him