The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-26
THE WOODS POLICE.
THE WORK AND THE WAYS OF THE
GAMEKEEPERS.

Men Who Watch Against Unlawful Killing
Of Animals in Our Forest Tracts-The
Friendly War Between Them and the
Guides-Attempts 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-
dncting camping parties, and the game
keepers or wilderness police. Of the
latter the majority have been guides.
The advent of the gamekeeper began
with the adoption of laws for the pre-
seryation of animal life in the forests.
He corresponds closely to the foresters
of Europe, being empowered by law to
protect such game within his district
as comes under the prohibitory 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 a watch closer, and his iso-
lation from civilization more marked.
To be gamekeeper, just in his deal
ings with his fellow woodsmen, re-
quires nerve and shrewdness; the
guides must be met on their own
ground in a country with which they
are familiar. To circumvent them is
no small undertaking, nor do the laws
which make the backwoods constable
necessary allow him too wide a scope
in his operations.
A well-known game constable got
upon the track OF a camping party
which he had reason to believe were
shooting deer out of season. Coming
upon their camp he found the cook en-
gagged in roasting fat haunch of veni-
son. A complaint was entered against
the party, but when the case came to
trial the lawyer for the defence asked
the gamekeeper if he could swear that
the roasted meat was not lamb, or a
leg of veal. The constable knew that
no lamb or veal was to be found in that
part of the woods where the party had
made its camp, but he could not swear
it had not been brought in with the
campers. Ninety-pine chances out Of a
hundred were that the meat was veni-
son, but the defendants got off on the
one remaining point.
It is the gamekeepers' busy season
during the months of June, July and
the early part of August. He must be
ever on the alert for law breakers. His
territory may include tens of square
miles covered by the unbroken wilder
ness. He must make his journeys on
foot, fording streams, if he finds no
boat at hand, sleeping where night
0yertakes him, often trusting to the
good nature of the guides to provide
himself with a dinner, supper or break
fast. Such life makes a good soldier,
and to it is added native cunning ac-
Quired by long months of practice. Be-
ing of the guides, it is difficult for a
stranger to the wilderness to distin-
guish him from those whom it is his
business to watch. In appearance he
is as picturesque as his native wilds;
he carries everywhere with him the at
mosphere Of the woods in which he
lives; he is bronzed, rough clad, and
withall good natured. and, with few
exceptions, goes about his work honest
ly. His reputation for fair dealing
goes far to make him successful Of
fetal; the guides will try to fool him.
but they know their man and under
stand he means to treat them square,
1y. But if the gamekeeper seeks to
gain his ends through treachery and
underhand dealings, he had better give
up his job and seek other fields; the
guides may be as cunning as he, and
innumerable are the tricks played up
on him.