The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-05-05
HUNTERS TO FIGHT
DRAINAGE OF LAk]
COMMITTEE Is NAMED TO
TAKE UP THIS MATTER
WAR AGAINST CROWS
This Will Be Fought Out On
May 7; Yarns Told By
SportSmen


lures of last nights meeting of the
Southern Minnesota Game, Bird and
Fish Protective League meeting held
at the city hall.
The purpose of the meeting last
night was to organize a campaign
against the proposed draining or
lowering of Swan Lake, which is
considered the hunters paradise of
this immediate region. 1t was de-
cided last night to fight any such
move to a finish.
George Pond was chosen as chair
man of a committee of six consist
ing of Edward J. Brett. THEODORE
Just and W. E. Stewart of this city,
E. E. Miller of st. Peter and Claud
Mckenzie of Gaylord to conduct
campaign of propaganda against
either the lowering or fine complete
drainage of Swan Lake. At the sug-
gestion of l. n. Tompkins, it was
voted to have Harry La Due, assis-
tant game and fish commissioner,
write an article to be run in The
Bull Moose, a sportsmans magazine,
setting forth the true facts about
Swan Lake as to it's desirability as
a breeding place for wild aquatic
fowl, etc.
Soil Survey Suggested
John Hart suggested that some
government man should be secured
to make a soil survey of Swan Lake.
He doubted very much if the lake
were drained, that the soil would be
of any use for cultivation. He
thought that the national agricul
tural department at Washington, d.
C., might be interested in such
survey.
Chairman Pond said that he would
take the matter up with Carlos
Avery, state game and fish commits
sioner, and at the same time would
suggest that survey of the avail
able duck food in the lake be made.
Mr.. Pond said that he would call
meeting of the, committee in the
near future, for the purpose of get
ting the machinery of the opposition
in working order.
At the suggestion of l. N. Tomp-
kins it was decided to get list Of
the hunters in the different gun
clubs, etc, in Southern Minnesota
for the purpose of mailing out CO.
pies of The Bull Moose with the ar
ticle containing the write-up of
Swan Lake. If possible money will
pies of the magazine from the Of
fee of The Bull Moose publication
direct to each sportsman, so that he
will be acquainted with the real
facts in regard to Swan Lake.
The movement which the sports
men are fighting is one brought up
by certain number of farmers liv
ing on the north shore of the lake,
which contemplates either the com
plete drainage of the lake or the
lowering of the water. The sports
men will fight either move.
Three members of the st. Peter,
brance of the Southern Minnesota
Game Bird and Fish Protective
League were present. They were:
President E. P. Hughes, E. E. Miller
and George Olson.
Opposition Losing Ground.
The st. Peter members said that
the county commissioners of Nicol
let county, in which Swan Lake is
located are switching over in favor
of the opposition, and there is little
likelihood of the drainage proposition
going through. There are number
of the St. Peter sportSmen who are
also good lawyers Mr. Olson said
he had no doubt but what a few
dollar a year" attorneys could be
secured to fight the case of the
sportsmen.
Attorney J. ". Schmitt, one of the
duck hunters of this city who takes
in the fall shooting at Swan Lake,
said that the time had come for the
supreme court, he said, had long
ago ruled against the draining of
lakes of the nature of Swan Lake.
He believed in making firm stand
in the matter. This opinion was
concurred in by all of the hunters
present.
The publicity campaign will be
commenced at once.
The Crow Hunt. II
After disposing of the Swan Lake
proposition as far as stated the
nfmrods next turned their attention
to the question of a crow hunt.
John Hart, who has a wonderfully
crow like voice. and is said to be
language that the black winged birds
flock about him for miles around,
started the ball a rolling. He, sug-
gested that when the hunt was call
ed that. sides should be chosen, and
the losers pay for a banquet.
THE. banquet idea is a good one,
John" said Chairman Pond, but
don't you think that if the losers had
to buy a gallon of "Old Crow" to
treat the victors, that we would get
a bigger crowd to battle the crows?"
Sure thing. said Ike Tompkins,
who smacked his lips. Your now
talking" said Roy Allison. county
surveyor, THAT meets with the code
of ethics" said County Attorney J.
W. Schmitt. Ed Brett, Fred w.
Kruse. and several others said moth
ing but looked thirsty.
On motion nf Came Warden Will
liam z. Polzine the date of the first
crow hunt was set for the first Sun
day in May which falls on May 7. |
1t is proposed on that date 10 hunt
three in an auto. One man driving
on the front seat, and two men on
the rear seat armed with shot guns,
each man taking his own side of the
road to wing the crows. -
Chairman Pond appointed the fol-
lowing committee to arrange for the
crow hunt: c. e. Lampwright, Roy
Brooks and John Hart.
Hunters Relate Stories.
Following the regular order of
business. the, hunters became re-
minscent. George Pond entertained
the bunch present with a fox hunt
ing experience at Swan Lake, where
the beauty of the fox so charmed
George that he got bad case of
Buck fever and forgot to shoot
until SLY old Reynard had made his
getaway.
C. E. Lampright proved to be an
entertaining story teller. The hun
tiers should ask him to relate how
one can run his machine under a
License Applied For"
Chairman Pond stated that the