The Saint Paul globe., 1902-10-20
GAME: :. Law 4! s. TOO RIGID
MOVEMENT is ON FOOT TO HAVE
TIE MEASURE AMENDED s
Present Statute Prevents Sale Here of
F.. Migratory Birds That Are Just AS
Apt to BE Killed in Florida AS Min
nesota-Law Is Constantly Violated.

A strong movement is on foot for the
passage in the next legislature of an
amendment to the present game law,
which is considered by the many hum
dreds of people who have felt it's re-
strictionS during the last two years to
be unfair and discriminating.
1t has been Brought home to the rank
and file Of citizens in Minnesota that
the provision of tn; law which pre-
vents sale of any game bird at any
time merely amounts to a special privi-
lege for the rich men who have money
and leisure in which to hunt and kill
game, while the man in ordinary cir
cumstances who might be able to afford
the luxury of a brace Of grouse occa-
sionaIly or a pair Of malards for his
family table, is debarred from enjoy
ment of such game by the eXacting
character of the law as it now stands.
The dealers in poultry and fish in
st. Paul and Minneapolis who have
been in the habit of handling game
birds, now refuse to deal in them al
together, as the Importation Of game
birds from other states to fill a local
demand does not prevent their seizure
by game wardens
'"The fact of the matter is,'' said
well-ilnoWn dealer yesterday, "that
we have hundreds OF calls from people
who demanded game on account of
sickness in their families, but no mat
ter what the condition, we are unable
to fiji the bill. We run too much risk
if we attempt to handle any class of
game in cqntravention of the law, and
moreover out desire is to do business
within the provisions of the act
"The eXasperating part of the situ-
alton is that Minnesota remains, as
she always has, the best supply point
for game birds and venison in the
( Northwest. If that is not the case,
I should like to have it explained to me
+ why lists of prices are sent to the. oEr.il-
lleapolis commission .ff7''-es every
day,
Law Is Violated.
"[ know very we'll that out of the
well-stoelked prairie and field of this
state we are furnishing to Chicago
and other eastern cities all the game
they want at the prices they quote.
Minnesota prairie chickens are being
sold In Chicago as Texas prairie
hens" at $I3.5C a dozen, and Mime
sofa quail at So a dozen. Green wing
teal bring 80. so and blue wing $4.
They are getting $3.76 now for malards
and other game is being sold accord
ingly.
1T is not the most difficult matter in
the world to get game out of the
state for disposal in other markets,
but 1t is a very hard proposition that
no possibility exists OF being able to
sell to a Minnesota household a single
bird or slice of venison at any price.
= 1 have been offered fabulous prices
for birds this season, but 1 have not
had them to sell because the law pro-
hibitss me from selling them.
There is q good deal Of buncombe
about law which prevents the sale
here Of birds like mallards or teal,
which are migratory in their habits
ard which are just as liable to be kill
ed in Florida or any point between
there and the rorth pole as in Minneso-
ia. Yet in order to be able to eat a
1FaIlard or any sort Of duck, or to be
able to get brace of partridges for
your SICK wife, you must also have
the leisure to go out and kill them
yourself. .sr
II think there should be an amend
ment to the law which would at least
permit the sale of Minnesota game
in Minnesota Under restrictions which
would insure the adequate protection
of game"