The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-03-31
PROTECTION TO FISH AND GAME
Ocala, Fla, March 20, 1911.

To the Editor Ocala Banner:
l was informed lately that there
would BE a meeting of the Game and
Fish Protective Association of Marion
county held at the court house on last
Friday evening, and was asked to be
present. I piously attended, only to
find myself the only one there, though
maybe the meeting was held else
where. 1t is important that the citi-
zens of Florida awake to a realizing
sense of the value of their game and
fish possessions, for they constitute a
most valuable asset.
am sorry to see the Ocala Banner
taking up the cudgel in defense OF
what | conceive to be a most PERM
cious doctrine, to-wit: That game pro-
tective legislation should be abolished
in order that game and fish should be
sold in the markets, and become, like
any other food, a merchantable com
modify. This same logic, carried to
it's legitimate end, would advocate the
cutting down of our noble oaks that
shade our dwelling houses, in order
that firewood be cheap.
There is far more Importance in
volved in this question than the mere
present food value of our game and
fish. Even the sociological condition
of state is affected by it. Every
we'll made man, in whose veins is good
red blood, is more or less Bohemian.
Latent in the nature of the normal
man lies the instinct, inherited from
our primordian ancestors, to shoulder
his gun and go out and kill something
Deplore it as we may, yet nature
furnishes no analogy wherefrom to
draw lessons of mercy. Nature is red
in tooth and claw-everything forever
subsiding on another specie.
The "call of the Wild" which impels
the busy man of affairs to quit his Of
flee, get into khaki and sit around a
camp fire, eating half-roasted meat, is
upon us, and perhaps it is we'll
One-half of the incentive that
prompts the average man to get out
of the congestion of the cities and lead
a more or less suburban life, is arOus-
ed consciously or unconsciously by
that old instinct that led our primitive
ancestors to Stay their own meat
Take from Florida her game and
fish and her tourist trade would de-
crease one-half, and not only that but
thousands come here to buy land, hop
ing to find good hunting and fishing
1t requires a certain nicely of per-
ception to frame game laws that will
protect the game and yet work no in
justice upon anyone. Upon the sea-
perhaps, fish may be taken with i'm
punity, but upon inland lakes and
streams every man who knows any
thing about it is aware that the in
discriminate taking of fish is only
robbing our children of whatever food
value there may be in those fish, as
we'll as the pleasure of taking them
by legitimate sport.
The deadliest foe of our game and
fish is the pot-hunter. The inconse-
quential adroit negro and no account
white man or boy that makes a bust
ness of netting and sharing and spear
ing and shooting. Like billiards or
pool, it's a good game, but a mighty
poor business.
In all our fine lakes around Ocala,
like Orange Lake and Lake Weir.
am informed. there are innumerable
fish traps, and netting is carried on
openly or clandestinely. This is a
wanton waste of our priceless patri-
mony.
The argument often heard that
game laws are so fixed that the farm
er who lives near lake can't get
mess of fish when he wants them,
while the city dude may trample down
his crops, leaves his gates open and
carry away a wagon load of fish is
only partially pertinent.
The real idea is to stop the whole
sale slaughter by anyone, and so
hedge about by certain restrictions
the taking of game or fish that those
gross methods which endanger their
existence shall be abolished, and to
this end the countryman, as we'll as
anyone, if he is alive to his best in
terests, will work.
The laws regarding the taking of
some kinds of game or fish, like quail
or black bass, ought to be uniform all
over the state. These laws, to be eff
fective, must be supported by public
sentiment that vigorously demands
their enforcement, and it is the duty
of anyone who creates public senti-
ment to write and talk in favor of
game protection.