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MWJVUSHA 1V* WS DGovernor watches spearfishing unnoticedPRESQUE ISLE, Wis. (AP) — A night of surprises on Presque Isle Lake started with Chippewa Indians pulling a ruse on anti-treaty protesters and ended with Gov. Tommy G. Thompson tricking everyone.Thompson, who spent Thursday in Madison pushing for federal court action to halt this year’s spearfishing by midnight tonight, went unnoticed as he spent more than an hour on the water in a state Department of Natural Resources boat Thursday night.Dave Kunelius, a DNR spokesman, said Thompson “made contact” with some spearing boats on Presque Isle Lake but Kunelius said he did not know if the governor spoke to any spearers or identified himself.Kunelius said he believed it was the governor’s first outing to observe tribal spearfishing.The governor, who had been the target of some protesters’ chants on shore on earlier spearing nights, did not come ashoreon the boat landing where about 75 people gathered.The governor’s visit came on one of the quietest outings by the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa spearers, whose tribal fishing has often attracted shouting and chanting opponents by the hundreds.But Thursday night, the small crowd of spectators made few comments when the first of three Chippewa boats returned with a catch of walleyes. Therewere no shouts of “one-term Tommy” as there have been in past nights. The remark was a reference to Thompson, who is serving his first term as governor.One reason for the quiet apparently was the ruse pulled by the Indians.After rumors during the day indicated the Lac du Flambeau would go to Butternut Lake in Price County, protesters headed for that lake.But the Indians went to Presque Isle Lake in Vilas County, more than 40 miles away.The Chippewa, who had permits allowing 10 people to fish, were accompanied by a group of a few dozen treaty-rights supporters and tribal members who outnumbered the protesters.A federal judge was scheduled to hear arguments this afternoon on the state’s request for a court order halting the spearing before Saturday’s opening of the sport fishing season in Wisconsin.
Newspaper Details
Kenosha News
Kenosha, Wisconsin, US
Fri, May 05, 1989
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous A.
WI, USA 10 Nov 2021
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