M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-03-25
From the Ohio Farmer.
Ohio Game Inv.

OuIlbS tiC opIluS vi 100 lhC IN |
lislature OF this State, in conjunction
with an act to protect fish and fisher
les, passed a law entitled, "an act to
prevent the killing of birds aud other
game" This enactment having i'll
view the preservation Of such species
Of our game birds as are now threat
ened with total extinction, and being
lin every respect promotive OF the best
Interest of the farmer, demands his
strict attention and observance, and
with the cooperation of sportsmen,
in few years its object may be OBJ
Itained.
Many birds and quadrupels, form
erly existing in Ohio in large numbers,
are rapidly becoming scarce, and il will
not DO long before they will be looked
upon as among the things OF the past
unless some immediate action be taken
in their behalf.
1t is not as is frequently supposed
the rapid progress ofcivilization which
causes their alarming decrease, for in
England, where the laws are much
: more stringent and are rigidly OBJ.
T served, game is said to be yearly in
D creasing in numbers. Nor does the
small proportion OF birds killed by the
! sportsman during the proper season
j effect to any great extent their dimin-
ution. The fruitful causes which are
l tending 80 rapidly to exterminate
: some Of the best and most useful spe-
8 cies Of game are the use of the deadly
trap, and the destruction of birds du-
: ring the spring of the year when en-
:-Egaged in rearing their young, Let
every one who would not see the fields
y and woods of our State depopulated
: and silent, use his every effort to put
9 a stop to such barbarous spractice.
$ Thanks to those enterprising and per.
n severing sportsmen who have given
+ Ohio a law second to none in point OF
g utility to any in the Union, we are
l. now able to deal with such offenders
: as they deserve.
d The common Quail (Ortyr Virgin
u iana) known frequently as the mis-
II nomer Of Partridge, and once found
g so abundantly in every portion of this
.lState, has pre-eminent claims to the
D protection Of this law, as being the
most useful den!zen of the farm, the
l. one most dependent upon its owner fol
safety, and as being in the greatest
Il danger of total annihilation.
Few farmers rightly value the ser
s vices which the Quail renders him
u We hesitate not to say that the farm
which can boast the greatest number
l of beVies can also boast Of being the
y most free from weeds. While they
!, never pluck a kernel of wheat or other
grain from the stalk when standing,
J each member daily consumes some
gils Of noxiuus weed seed. Ifunmo.
t Tested then, during the winter and
= spring, the Quail will not only aid ma
e terially in cleansing the farm, but du-
It ring the fall months may be legitimate
;. ly pursued for sport, or to furnish an
a article of food for the table. The Wild
= Turkey, Woodcock ,and Ruffed Grouse
e or Pheasant, stand also in great need
n of the protection Of the law indeed
; whatever Of game shall exist in Ohio
/, twenty years hence will owe it's pres
il ervation to the game law Of the State
t aud whether it be observed or remain
+ as a dead letter, is mainly in the pow
er of the farmer to decide, either by
!; preventing the poaching, pot-hunting
! rascals, from our large cities, from
= slaughtering the half.grown birds, or
: what is more important by far, tc
h discontinue the use of the trap in theil
e capture, and to afford protection tc
;. the old birds during the spring and
I summer months while rearing theil
4 young.
8 The penalty for the disregard ol
}, this law is fine Of not more than fif,
# teen, nor less than five dollars, which
sum is to be used for the benefit o.
r common schools. When, then, the
= offender shall certainly find that his
u sport is not only expensive, but entails
J, upon himselftbe displeasure Of all law
e abiding citizens, we may hope that he
g will cease his depredations. No far.
: mer or sportsman should lose good
: opportunity OF furnishing those who
+ tlanSgress the requirements Of this
:, law, j. II. B.