The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-21
RECKLESS SLAUGHTER OF GANG
5rds and Animals Killed by Mercen
airy Hunters and Trappers.

Sirds and Animals Killed by Mercen
airy Hunters and Trappers.
The mereenary hunter and trapper
who has been responsible for the ex-
sinction of valuable animals and birds
in older sections of the United States
Is now plying his trade in Indian Ter
fitory, in spite of the strict game laws
In force.
The Indian agent has discovered that
quail trappers are making systemat-
ic campaign against this class of birds
by trapping them and sending them
out of the Territory. While waiting
for train at Crowder City the other
day Agent Shoenfeldt noticed a COM
motion in several boxes and upon in
vestigation found that they were filled
with live quail, which were billed to
Anthony, Kan. He ordered them re-
leased, and at least 5000 full grown
birds few away toward the neighbor-
ing fields. Last year the agent discov-
cred 5000 live quail at Paul's Valley,
which were about to be shipped to
New Zealand to firm that is trying
to establish these birds in that coun-
try.
The professional quail trapper is
probably the greatest enemy OF the
true sportsman of Indian Territory. He
stretches a large net in the tall grass
and then drives the birds along the
ground until they are within it's reach,
when the ends are closed in upon
them and they are prisoners in its
meshes.
The Indian policemen, through the
instructions of the Indian agent, have
been releasing large number OF quail
this year which have been caught IN
this way, and wherever the trappers
| can be found they are being arrested.
In order to make the Indian policemen
more vigilant, they are allowed to keep
| any game that they confiscate which
has been killed by hunters. When
they confiscate live game it is always
released.
One of the great menaces to the
game of Indian Territory is the profess
sional trapper Of fur bearing animals,
who travels over the country plying
his trade at different seasons in the
sections of the country where he will
get best results. In certain portions
of the Blue River thousands OF beav-
ers build their dams. These animals
are easily trapped, and the profess
sional trapper catches them by the
| hundreds If allowed to work unhlnder-
ed. The Indian police are instructed
to keep close watch on these streams
and to arrest all persons who attempt
to trap or kill the beaver.
Indian Territory also has many 9TH
er fur bearing animals which would
make rich prizes for the trapper II
he were allowed to hunt them unre-
strained.
The Indian agent is having his usu-
al trouble with hunters of deer this
season If a man wishes to kill a
deer or two for his own use there is
no objection. But there are men in
the Territory who attempt to make
their livelihood by hunting deer and
selling them to butchers in and out or
the Territory. The great and inereas-
ing demand for venison in railroad
eating houses and in butcher shops all
over this section of the country makes
the traffic in venison profitable. The
Indian police are instructed to make
the rounds of the butcher shops in
each town in the Territory at regular
intervals and to conflscate any ven
ison or quail that they may find for
sale in these places. i, This is done
very frequently in most Territory
towns but seldom becomes known to
the general public. as no arrests are
made and the butcher from whom
the meat is taken keeps his own coun-
sel.-Muskogee correspondence Kan
sas City Journal.