The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-05-18
Often by the People Through
Ignorance.
STATE GAME WARDEN
Asks for Cooperation in Pro-
tecting Fish and Game.
Bulletin Issued Containing Sum-
mary of Game Laws That are
Most Frequently Violated.

State Game Warden John c.
Speaks has sent out bulletin con'
tanning a brief summary of The
game laws, particularly the sections
most frequently violated. He thinks
that there should be cooperation
N all quarters to protect the fish,
birds. and other games and also sayf
that majority of the uoatlonS
of game laws are made through
ignorance. Warden Speaks says:
In performing the duty imposed
upon the Ohio Fish and Game Com
mission by the Statutes pertaining
to the protection of birds, fish and
game, the Commissioners desire to
enlist in behalf of their efforts ev-
cry moral agency or other deterrent
force which will tend to prevent
violation of the law, and make ar
rost and resort to the Courts OF
less frequent occurrence.
1t is the opinion of the Commits
sioners that a great many violations
Of the fish and game regulations re-
suit from Ignorance concerning the
law S provisions, and, further,
that if the Statutes relating to birds
fish aad game, were known and
understood, there would be, general
ly speaking, ready and willing
compliance Herewith, Under these
circumstances where the violation
is willful and with full knowledge
concerning the penalty prescribed
there would be no just cause for
complaint when prosecution follows.
For the purpose of giving great
est publicity to the sections most
likely to be transgressed at this
season of the year, the following
prohibitions are mentioned:
1t is illegal to catch. KILL injure
or pursue any song bird or other
bird, except that hawks and Eng
lish sparrows may be killed under
certain conditions. Thus it is dam
gerous to shoot at any kind of
bird at this tdAe.
II is illegal to catch, kill. or pur-
sue any game bird or game animal
al this time, except that landowners
may kill rabbits when found iniur-
Ing crops, etc.
1t is illegal to hunt or shoot on
Sunday.
1t is illegal, IN inland waters,
to catch fish in any manner or with
any sort of device, except with
hook and limo using bait or lure.
II Is illegal to catch, kill or have
an possession, any black bass be-
tween May list and June 1st.
The penalty provided by the Gem
eral Assembly for violation of any
of the above mentioned sections is
a fine of $25 to 5000 and costs.
1t Is not violation of the fish
and game laws to fish on Sunday.
1t IL illegal to use dynamite or
any other explosive in any public
waters, the penalty for violation Of
this section being a fine of $50 to
5000 or Imprisonment for not less
than thirty days of more than six
months, or both.
1t was evidently the purpose ,of
the Legislature in framing the
Statutes regulating inland water
fishing, to prohibit taking fish in
amy manner except with hook and
line using bait or lure. This law
is most excellent one faithful
compliance vsith its provisions
would soon result in well stocl;
streams, thus affordiug every one
opportunity for healthful recreation
and sport.
One illegal fisherman or poacher
with his string Of nets, traps, trot
lines and seine. does more to de-
populate the waters than thousands
of legal pursuers of the sport, us
ing hook and line. His lawless ar-
tions deprive the masses of their
fair share of the pleasure and en-
joyment to be derived from day
spent along the streams. Thus the
: illegal fisher menaces the rights and
pleasure Of the people generally
and should be opposed by every
one,
Violation of the fish and game
laws should be reported to any
game warden, sheriff, constable OF
other police officer, or to the Ohio
Fish and Game Commission.