The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-28
PROTEST IS FORMULATED
AGAINST THE FISH LAW
People of the Northern Lake Re
gion Raise Fund to Test 1t
In the State Courts.
AN ATTACK ON DEPUTIES

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WARSAW Ind. May 27.-The citizens OF
North Webster and Tippecanoe township.
in the heart Of the lake region of kosciusko
county; are up in arms against the present
fish law as il stands and is enforced in this
locality.
A large and enthusiastic meeting was
held at North Webster to discuss the OBJ
jectionable provisions of the law. Over a
hundred citizens were present and per-
manent organization was effected. officers
were elected as follows: President, A c..
Scott; secretary. Nat j. Kline; treasurer,
Henry Kline. The new association pro-
poses TO fight the present law until it is
repealed, amended or declared unconstitg-
tional.
Several addresses were made and a
movement was inaugurated to raise the
necessary funds to attack the constitu-
tionality of the present law-or. rather.
that of certain of it's sections. Within the
last few days great deal of popular in
dignaticn has been aroused in Tippecanoe
township over the arrest of Charles Web
ster for having a net in his possession. and
his case Will be carried ultimately to the
Supreme Court by the association Just
formed to test the constitutionality of this
particular provision of the fish and game
laws The arrest in question was made by
Constable Farber on an affidavit of Deputy
Fish Commissioner Benner. The latter and
two other deputy fish wardens, when the
case came up at North Webster, appeared
In the Justices court, but were Obliged to
leave town hurriedly TO avoid threatened
violence. For a time il looked as though
Officer Benner and his companions might
be roughly handled. but better counsel pre-
vailed and the comon-sense method of or
ganization and legal procedure was adopt
ed A fund Of 500 has been raised for the
purpose of testing the law.
Secretary Kline, of the new association,
has made a statement which places the pO-
sitfon of the people of Tippecanoe township
In a clearer light.
Our people," said Mr.. Kline, do not de-
sire a law. lack of law, that will admit
of indiscriminate fishing by all means and
methods. We want a common-sense fish
law which will prevent the shipping of fish
from the county and which will prevent the
taking or fish in the spawning season. We
want law which will give the taxpayers
equal rights with the summer visitors who
spend a great deal of time at the many
lakes In this region. We protest against
the great number of small and young fish
which are annually taken from the lakes by
hook and line by visitors and children, and
which. being too small to eat. are inva-
riably thrown out on the shore to die. This,
We insist. Is doing more to depopulate our
waters of fish than the taking by net of
FISH of large growth The citizens of Tippe-
canoe township are IawaDlding, out we are
convinced that the present law and its
method of administration are working a
hardship and an injustice. and we do not
propose to cease our efforts until the pres
ent law is held unconstitutional or the
Legislature takes some steps for our re-
lief"