The Yale expositor., 1915-05-20
LETTER FROM
STATE CAPITOL
GAME LAWS SOMEWHAT BETTER
ED BY LAST SESSION OF
LEGISLATURE.
NEW MEASURE is ENACTED
Governor Ferris Signs Teachers Pen.
sion Bill-State Superintendent
Wheeler Would Bar Fine
Dresses for Graduates.
I6y>Gurd NJ. Hayes.l


Lansing, Mich.-Every legislature
in recent years has changed the game
and fish laws in various ways and the
law making body of 1915 was no ex-
ception in this regard. Although the
recommendations of State Game War
den Oates were not following in ev-
cry particular his suggestions were
accepted in many instances and IL is
claimed that the general game laws
have been somewhat improved.
Senator Odell's bill makes a num-
Der of changes in connection with
the laws relative to inland fishing.
This bill had for it's purpose the con-
solidation of all laws relating TO fish
ing in inland water into one general
act, and TO repeal all other laws
whether local or general, in conflict
with the Odell bill.
The general laws brought under the
provisions OF the Odell bill includes
the law which regulates the size, num-
Der and manner of taking brook trout
and other species of trout from the in
land streams. 1t also takes in the
general law permitting the spearing
of certain kinds of fish through the
ice during the months of December.
January, February and March, and
covers the general law prohibiting the
use of certain kinds of apparatus In
taking fish from the inland waters Of
this state The general law relative
to the protection of bass is made
part of the Odell bill.
Among the new features 1t provides
that a hook and line shall be con-
strued to be single line and single
hook or hooks attached while held
in the hand under Immediate control.
The brook trout season is changed
from May l to September l, whereas
the old law permitted the taking OF
trout until September Is. 1t does not
change the number or size of trout
that may be taken from the inland
streams, but provides that all trout
found in the inland waters shall be
construed to be brook trout, without
regard to the scientific name or tech
meal description of the specie.
The season, number and size of
black bass has not been changed but
the law provides that hereafter no
person can have in his possession any
black bass at time when the taking
of them is prohibited.
1t provides that suckers, mullet,
red-sides and grass pike may be taken
with spear or dip-net in the inland
streams during the months of March
and April in each year. No artificial
light, however, can be used in con-
nection with spearing. The new law
prohibits the use of all kinds of set
lines, except that five lines, to be
termed "ice-lines," may be used for
the purpose of taking all kinds of fish
except brook trout and bass through
the ice during the months of January
and February of each year, and will
permit the use of spears through the
ice during the months OF January and
February for taking all kinds of fish,
except trout and bass. This law does
not repeal any local act which pre-
vents the spearing of fish during any
season of the year other than that
PROVIDED TOT IN the act.
Another of the new provisions In
the law is that blue-gills, sun-fish,
rock-bass. calico-bass, perch and wall
eyed pike and carp shall not be taken
unless they are of certain length.
Bluegills, sun-fish, perch and crappies
must be five inches in length. Rock
bass and white bass must be six
inches in length and 'wall-eyed pike
must be at least ten inches long 1t
will be unlawful to take more than
% OF any one of the species in a day
and none can be sold or offered for
sale.
The possession of any kind OF net,
except dip nets and minnow seines,
for the purpose of netting fish, is pro-
hibited The bill also provides that
1t shall be prima facie evidence OF
guilt for any person to have in his
possession any net, except dip net
or minnow seine, jack or artificial
light of any kind, dynamite, giant
powder or any explosive substance
for the purpose of taking fish, within
radius of one-half mile from any in
land lake or stream. The bill makes
1t lawful to use a minnow seine 20
feet in length for the purpose OF TAX
ing minnows, clubs or SINNERS for
bait in hook and line fishing.
Male non-residents over Is years of
age must obtain an anglers license to
fish In any fthe waters of Michigan.
This feature. however, does not take
effect until 1916. and for the balance
of the year the present law will be in
effect. No changes we're made in the
commercial fishing laws.
In the new game bill introduced by
Senator Hilsendegen, provision is
made that no water fowl can be taken
except from September to December
Is, and all spring shooting Of water
fowl is eliminated in accordance with
the provisions of the new federal law.