Ogden Daily Standard | 1909-04-19 | Page 6 | Mix up over the Game Law

MIX UP OVER THE GAME LAW COMPLAINTS ISSUED AGAINST A NUMBER OF FISHERMEN. A. M. Van der Vlies' Authority at a Game Warden Is Questioned Men Were Unable to Obtain Licenses. There Is a variety of opinion being expressed today in 'regard to the authority au-thority legally vested in Deputy Game Warden A. M. Van der VMes at the present time and whether that gentleman's gentle-man's action Sunday in seizing certain fish which had been caught by local men In the vicinity of Hooper was strictly according to law. The deputy discovered a number of Ogden and .Hooper men fishing in Ogden Og-den river not far from the town ot Hooper. Having In his possession the only book of licenses issued this year, he was aware that no one of the group was a licensed flsher, and, furthermore, further-more, he learned that they were seining sein-ing contrary to the law in not being accompanied by a game warden or a deputy. Deputy Van der Vlles Informed the men that they were fishing illegally and requested them to desist. They Jcmurred in the matter, stating that the deputy had no authority In the present case owing to the fact that his commission had expired and had not been renewed on account of the delayed confirmation of the appointment appoint-ment of Fred W. Chambers as game warden. I The deputy, however, insisted in his demands that the fishing stop and proceeded pro-ceeded to seize the bag of fish, consisting con-sisting of carp, bass and suckers. Separating Sep-arating the bass from the others, he put the latter into his buggy and threw the remainder into the river. He then attempted to secure possession of the seine which was being used. While thus employed, It Is stated that Peter Mattson, one of the party, took the bass out of the buggy and threw them Into the river. The deputy then asked for the names of the men and was refused re-fused the information. As a sequel to the affair, complaints com-plaints were Issued against Peter Mattson. John Doe, Richard Roe and "John Smith," of Ogden, and David Fielding, Charles Illglcy and Joe and William Hall of Hoopercharging them with the foregoing offenses.