The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1913-12-27
PEOPLES COLUMN
Perryville, Dec. %, 10.
Mr.. Williams, Fellow Gunners of
Hartford and Cecil counties:

MI. " lllldlilS, TellOW runners Oh
Hartford and Cecil counties:
Gentlemen: 1t has come to our no.
tice in the Havre de Grace Demo-
cratic Ledger, that Mr.. C. w. Dolan,
of Philadelphia, and some more sport
ing men of Philadelphia and New
York gave supper, to get the con-
sent of gunners to have our ducking
laws changed, to benefit the wealthy
non-residents of other States, and to
slowly take away the poor mans right
of his native State. All suggestions
made at this supper were to benefit
sporting people from other States.
One thing that was put before the
meeting was to make nonresident
gunners pay the small license of
$10.75 per season, which was voted
down on the first ballot.
We all know that there are very
few States in the Union that we can
go and hunt without a license in.
Now, Mr.. Dolan can come to MARYLAND
land all other sports) and che .er
boat, and carry away from our State
ducks by the hundred. | know of one
day this year that Mr.. Dolan's craft
managed by Captain Poplar, laid low
over one hundred of our finest birds
tcanvasback) which were carried to
Pennsylvania, and this man says he
will not pay $10.75 to protect our
game.
The second thing that they wanted
to make law, is to go out on the
feeding grounds of our ducks the af-
ternoon before cunning and lay there
all night; so they will have their place
to gun, and also to keep from being
arrested for going over the line before
a. m. on cunning days, which gives
every man an equal chance, rich or
poor alike.
All of these sports have fine large
boats that they can go out in and go
to bed. Other fellows who have not
the money to own such boats, will
have no place to gun, not being able
to lay out there in the cold and storm
all night When we go, all the best
places will be taken up by our non
resident friends. If such law be
passed all those boats lying at anchor
all night long will give our ducks no
chance to feed at all In going out
the day before these boats go directly
to where they see a large bed of
ducks feeding, scare them away, and
put their anchor right in that spot
where there is no doubt plenty of
feed. Now, if all these boats do like
wise when will our ducks get a chance
to feed? The next day after the
ducks have been driven around all
night long, they will come back to be
slaughtered and carried away to
other States, in the early morning, by
the sports, who want to shoot from
dark in the morning until 2.30 p. M,
when they will be done, go ashore and
have time to take their load of ducks
and get back to New York and Phila-
delphia, in time to return the next day
and get their berths in the afternoon.
Now, the law is all right, and we
do not need any changes, whatever.
All the men who attended this meet
ing were men who cater to sports
from other States. None of us little
fellows who gun for fun and to get
few ducks to eat, were invited to this
frolc at Havre de Grace. 1t would be
very good thing if we had law to
make all resident gunners pay IL
cense of 81 and non-reSidents pay a
license of Sl0 taking all of this money
to protect our game. Now, boys, get
busy and stop this thing before it
starts. See your representative to
the legislature and explain this thing
to him before he leaves next month;
to make the laws of our State. | am
writing this from the opinion of
body of gunners who will back it by
their signature if necessary.
FRANK E. HARRIS,
Perryville, Md.