The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-17

last one notably. Noticed several on
change here before the holidays. Deer
are protected in Garrett county by
the acts of 1886, Chapter AZ, and 1888,
Chapter So, very stringent. But all
these enactments fail to restore the
attractive deer game that was of olden
times so plentiful; so much so as at
times to be harmful to crops, espe-
cially to the growing wheat and rye
crops late in the fall and early spring.
Instances are remembered when they
were driven from fields to prevent
injury to the tender grain, which was
very inviting to the hungry deer.
THE FEATHERED GAME.
The bird game did not receive leg
islative protection by law till 1878,
Chapter 263, and 1884, Chapter 1877.
These laws applied to Allegany coun-
ty and protected turkeys, pheasants,
woodcock, partridges, robins, wood
peckers and number of other song
birds. A similar law was passed for
Garrett county, 1886, Chapter pa.
FISH.
The first law to be found for their
protection and preservation is the act
of 1882, Chapter IA, followed by the
act of 1864, Chapter 103. There are
some other laws not to be found in
the codes for the two counties on the
same subject. Fish are diminishing
Notwithstanding the protective laws
and the replenishment of the streams
with young fish. Pollution of the
waters has had great deal to do
with the diminution of fish, as much
or more as the catching of them in
the regular and irregular ways.
WILD ANIMALS-WOLVES, PANTHERS,
WILD CATS, ETC.
For the double purpose of protect
ing domestic animals and game, the
General Assembly has passed many
laws for the destruction of these vi
cious animals. The first was of 1888,
Chapter 4; then 1890, Chapter 8; then
1927, Chapter 112; then 1928, Chapter
112; then 1849, Chapter III, and lastly
1858, Chapter TO- TheTfrst premium
on the scalp of a wolf was 20 shillings
The amount was increased at various
times until it reached the maximum
of thirty for an old wolf; one-half
always for a young animal. The
rate for the reason the former was
never so destructive of sheep and
other domestic animals as the latter.
Wild cat and fox scalps still con-
tribute to the size of the levy list in
both counties. In ''Allegany there is
a premium of thirty cents on owl and
hawk heads. If all the money could
be summed up that has been paid for
these scalps and heads it would be a
pretty large total Still it has been
willingly paid.
Holmes Wiley in his day was a
great nimrod-deadf for nearly twenty
years. He once told the writer one
of his adventures with the wolves.
While hunting for deer he came upon
the tracks of an unusually large wolf
which he pursued to it's den in cav
ern in Negro mountain. The way to
the animals lair was narrow and low,
had to reach it in crawling attitude
with the trusty rifle at his side. The
glaring eyes of the savage beast was
seen at some distance. The endan-
gered hunter fired his gun and silence
ensued, but he hesitated to proceed
for fear the animal might be playing
'possum. He cautiously crept on
till he reached his game-it was dead.
The old-time leaden ball had struck
the head between the two eyes,
and beside the old mother wolf was
found half dozen pups. All were
duly scalped according to the act OF
Assembly in such case made and pro-
vided.n All together the amount
was over 800; pretty good returns y
as the hunter said, ''for an ounce OF
powder and lead" He humorously
remarked that there was not so much
bowling on the mountain tops after
that, but a little more grumbling
among the taxpayers of old No. 3
than before.
| have refrained from giving the
details of the many acts or laws refer
red to. To have done so would have
taken large additional space in your
valuable columns, to say nothing of
! the labor. JB.
Cumberland, Md, May II, 1900.
A Keen Clear Brain.