The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13
WORK OF THE SPOR4SMEN
Nue. Accomplished for the Protec-
ton of American Game.
Increase in the Membership of the
National Lacuc-COnvictiOns of Of
tenders During Past Near-SnN-
ing California Senls-EHcct of Per
sonai Warnings to Lawbrcaiscrs.

The League of American Sportsmen.
which was organized about two years ago
for the purpose OF protecting game and
game fishes, and song, insectivorous, and
other birds, has. according to its report
jast issued. done more toward the attain
ment of its object than any similar organ
ization. The headquarters of this league
e in Kew York City. and the officers are:
President, G. o. Shields; Secretary, Ar
thur F. Rice, Treasurer. F. S. Hyatt; First
Vice President, Dr. c. Hart Merriam; Sec
oad Vice President Ernest Seton Thomp-
son; Third Vice President. ". \. Rich
ards; Fourth Vice President, W. T. Hona
day; Fifth Vice President, a. A. Ander-
son
Among the members are Governor Roose-
welt of New York; Gov. Joseph F. john
ston. of Alabama: Representative Joseph Z.
Thropp. of Pennsylvania; w. ID. jenkins.
Secretary of the State of Washington; Nj.
Patrie. Secretary of the State of Idaho,
and many other prominent men
The last annual report of President
Shields shows that. while year ago the
League embraced 1876 members. distri-
suted throughout thirtysix States, the
membership has grown TO 1927, every
State and Territory in the Union being
represented. as well as parts OF Canada.
During the year sixty-two men were
prosecuted in the various States by the
league for violation of the game and fish
laws. and conviction was secured in every
instance. The offer of rewards assisted
greatly in securing the offenders in these
cases. the money used for this purpose
having been contributed by the members
OF the league.
a Surprising Discovery.
President Shields. in his report, places
especial emphasis upon the fact that COM
paratively few of those protesting 10 have
at heart the interests and welfare Of song
and game birds, and fishes, will spend
money toward perpetuating these varie-
ties while they are prodigal in destroying
them. He says:
Il am astounded when / realize how
many sportsmen there are in the United
States who are willing to spend hundreds,
and some of them thousands, of dollars
each year in their efforts to kill game,
and who are not willing to spend one dol
lar year to preserve the game or in
crease the supply of it. / am astonished
when l think of the large number of
ornithologists in the country who are
constantly writing prosy descriptions OF
birds. their nests, and their eggs, which
few people ever read, and who never say
a word or spend dollar to save these
birds from destruction"
One of the notable works accomplished
by the league during the past year was
the successful appeal made to prevent
the killing of seals upon the California
coast. 1t is thus described by President
Shields:
In April last the California State Fish
Commission issued an order providing for
the destruction of 40, 600 to 10000 seals
and sea lions which inhabit the California
coast in the neighborhood Of San Fran
cisco, because the fishermen claimed that
these animals were killing some of the
food fishes.
s'The State Fish Commission employed q
number of professional hunters, and sent
them to the rocks with instructions to
Kill all the seals and sea lions they could
find.
81 Immediately appealed to the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury, in the name of the
League Of American Sportsmen, TO stoT
this killing. and We brought SO great an
influence to bear on him that he issued
an order, through the Superintendent o.
the Lighthouse Board, TO stop all killing
of seals on the lighthouse reservations
This practically includes all the rocks and
islands about the Golden Gate, which con-
stitute the home of these animals.
THUS the league has been instrumental
in savihg the many thousands of these
beautiful and interesting creatures which
have been source of pleasure and in
struction to sightseers for fifty years.
T warnings 10 Lawbrenkers.
"a great deal of good has also been
DONE" continues Mr.. Shields ''by per-
sonal correspondence with persons accuss d
OF lawbreaking Hundreds of cases have
been reported to me by mail. and l have
in every instance written the accused.
stating the nature of the complaint made
against him, and asking him for a pledge
that he would obey the laws in future. 1
have advised all such persons that unless
they made written promises they would
be prosecuted, and that, in any event, cur
officers or members would keep watch of
them. In nearly every case a prompt re-
ply has been received. promising faithful
obedience TO the laws. 1t is imposs. BILE
to calculate the amount of good thus done
but it is safe TO say that thousands OF
birds and mammals have been thus saved
from destruction"
Representative John f. Lacey of Iowa,
himself member OF the league has intro
duced in Congress bill which authorizes
the Agricultural Department to engage in
the propagation, distribution, and preserva-
tion of game and other birds useful to man.
This bill also authorizes the Interstate
Commerce Commission TO prohibit the ship
ment from one State to another OF game
killed In violation of the law, or the ship
ment of game killed at any time in any
State having law prohibiting the eXporta
ton of game. Mr. Lacey's bill is known
as House bill 1854.
The league is now in the act of introduc-
ing, through It's various chief wardens in
the nineteen States where it has regularly
organized divisions. bills to prohibit the
sale of game at all times. and to prohibit
the wearing or having possession of the
plumage of any bird for decorative pur-
posea
Representative Lacey in a speech deIiv-
cred at a banquet given by the league.
made most interesting allusion To the