Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-19
A WAR ON FISHERMEN
Michigan Game Warden. Heavily
Armed. Goes Alter Fisher
men on the Lakes.
Rams Fishing smacks With a
Tug and Captures Three
OF the Boats.
Law Providing for Closed
Season Alleged to Have
Been Violated.

! st. Joseph, Mich, Nov. lS.-Deputy
| Game Warden Brewster, on board 9
| heavy tug boat, armed with a belt full
of revolvers and a Ratchet, has started
a fisheries dispute between Michigan
| and Indiana by ramming one fishing
tug and capturing two others out of s
fleet of six
The Michigan game warden asserts
that the tugs were fishing in Michigan
water contrary to law, which sets the
beginning of the open season on Dec
Is.
The fisherman claim that they were
inside the Indiana line, where there is
no closed season law.
The merits of the cases will in due
time come up in the courts.
The chase and capture of the three
tugs and the escape of three others was
attended by several exciting incidents.
Deputy Game Warden Brewster had
hired the big tug Dormas OF this port
and, heavily armed, went out in search
of the fishermen who had been reported
in Michigan waters.
Six tugs were chased by the big boat
with the game warden and his deputies
aboard. Some OF the tugs were cap
tured, while others escaped, one making
in the direction of Milwaukee,. Brewster
left Menominee yesterday morning with
the big tug to begin a raid on the fish
ermen. He sighted the tugs about noon
and the chase began.
The six tugs-three of Booths Michi-
gan City fleet and the Frank Edwards.
Sir Arthur, and Ferry of this port
S GIFTED the game warden's boat and i'm
medlately dropped their nets, cut the
lines, and sheltered for shelter.
After an hours chase the Frank Ed
wards was overtaken. When the big
game warden's tug overlook the Frank
Edwards 1t was under a full head of
steam and rammed the smaller tug vio-
lently in the stern, smashing savera
stanchions and guard rail. The little
boat put on a full head of steam and
attempted to escape. The Dormas again
took up the pursuit and succeeded ii
heading the smaller craft off. Again the
Dormas rammed the Edwards, this time
on the port bow. and the smaller tn,
careened violently and was in danger O.
capsizing.
Game Warden Brewster appeared on
the deck, armed as described, and com
manded the surrender of the boat.
Captain Nollhagen surrendered the
Frank Edwards and it was boarded and
searched All of the nets and fish. were
removed, including sixteen, nets ana LOCO
pounds of lake herring. The tug was
then ordered to proceed to ST. Joe.
BY this time the powerful tug Sir Ar
thur, of this port, had disappeared on
the Milwaukee course, and it was i'm
possible for the game warden to over
take 1t. The next tug overhauled, after
u lively chase. was the Bertha Cookie,
enc of the three tugs owned by the
Booth Packing Company. In this case,
owing to want of room on the big tug,
nets were not seized. but the Cookie was
ordered to proceed to ST. Joe, which it
did.
The tug Ferry of thsi port was next
overhauled. and Immediately surren-
dered and was ordered to proceed to this
port at once.
The two remaining Booth tugs made
their escape, one going to Michigan
City and the other heading for Chicago.
1t has been charged that for many
years tugs have broken the rules and
have returned to their own fishing
grounds several miles south of this port
Captain Verdien, of the tug Dormas,
says that according to charts in his pos
session the tugs were fishing fifteen
miles this side Of the Indiana line in
Michigan waters Vessel owners here
are indignant with Brewster's action in
,amming the tug and say that they
would have returned the attack.