Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-12-25
AS Farmers See 1t.

EDITOR GAZETTE :-Will you please
grant us space in your paper to present
the views OF number of citizens of this
county relatiye to some proposed amend
ments to the game and fish laws of this
state.
In the Weekly Oregonian Of Decsm-
Der 14th appears synopsis of bill to
be preIented to the legislature; and in
this synopsis it is proposed to have the
shooting season for Mongolian pheasants
closed till 1905. Now, We as farmers
protest against this, for at least Benton
county. For should this become law,
and be enforced, grain fields would be
alive with them, and without doubt vast
areas of grain would be totally destroyed
by the voracious birds. We could not
neither would we endure it.
Again, it is proposed to open the shoot
ing season fifteen or thirty days earlier |;
but the farmers of this locality demand
that it be made fifteen or thirty day IS
later, for the very good reason that our
rush of work will then be over, 10 that
the farmer with his boys can take
hand at the birds along with the gun
clubs.
| Now, We might suggest 10 our law
makers that we'll enough is good thing.
For this whole game law business is of
doubtful benefit, since it breeds contempt
and disrespect for the laws of our
country, for both gun club men and
| their hired men, as well as their sons,
| openly violate these laws. We include
| in the gun club all the town and city
gentry who jump in their chaises and
drive throughout the country and shoot
from their vehicles every bird that
breaks cover, and that, too, upon the
public highway, and shooting upon OF
| from the public road in violation of the
law.
| Now, Mr.. Editor, what are our indi-
vidual rights in this matter of game
beasts and birds? Where has the city
and town man a right Ito shoot game
Certainly not on the premises CT land
owners, except where permission il
given. Certainly not On the pubic high
ways. Well, then, where? On the pub
| lie domain, along and upon meanderee
lstreams, lakes and upon alien lands
and as above stated where John Farme
and Widow Smiles give permission,
The farmer on his own premises at least
Now, if the law indirectly forces tn
farmer to raise birds SO plentiful as t,
overflow the fields, and 60 out into tin
mountains and hills, and beside tn
lakes and rivers and keep up a never.
failing supply upon the Widow Smile
farm, the nimrods of town and city mus
Herewith be content.
A word abont fish. It is further pro
: posed to not allow any salmon trou
taken with line and hook during Jan
fuary, February and March. Now, woul
it not be better to close all markets t
that fish than that which will result il
eft repeated law breaking. for the peopl
Twill take them during these months fo
their own table, law or no law. And, b
the way We will ask fish wardens or MI
Reed if saw dust is hurtful TO fish, and,
so, why are saw mill men allowed t
dump the dust from their mills into ou
streams. Into the beautiful waters o
1.-THE Alsea three saw mills dump thei
dust. That stream once teeming will
fish, from some cause is fast becomin
| depopulated of its fnny tribes, ant
Marys River, once alive with the best o
fish is NO longer attractive to the angler
Dams and sawdust have done the work
A TAXPAYER
Inavale, Benton County, Oregon.