The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-22
THE PROTECTION OF GAME II
LOUISIANA.

THE PROTECTION OF GAME II
LOUISIANA.
This is an interesting subject, which, "
understand, will be pressed upon the atten
ton Of the Legislature in day or two. Tn
gentlemen who are leading in the matter hav
drawn up an act embodying such features il
the game laws Of some Of the other States a
our climate, the kinds Of game to be pro
tected and local circumstances will rende
applicable to Louisiana. As the measure
in no way connected with political questions
we hope it will receive proper attention ant
ripen into law It's merits will certainly com
mend it to cultivated and rejecting persons
Nearly all the States have adopted measures
of some kind to prevent the extinction O
Wild game within their limits. New YORK.
Rhode Island, Connecticut Minnesota, Ne
braska, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey. In
diana, Vermont, Ohio, Kentucky, Massachu'
sets, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania
California, Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin,
North Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire
Illinois, and perhaps other States have set us
a good example, not only by their protective
systems, but by the fine results obtained in
many of them. In parts of Pennsylvania it
is stated that deer and turkeys. not to men
ton inferior kinds of game, are far more
abundant than they were forty years ago.
In past years it has been the just pride Of
Louisiana that her forests abounded in the
finest Of game, from the stately buck with
his antlercd glor:es, down to the nimele
squirrel and much priced quail
In remote parts Of the State this is still
true, but it can not be denied that great
change has taken place in most of our par
ishes within the last fifteen years. In many
of them the woods are entirely destitute OF
every kind of game, where, not long ago. the
hunter found excellent sport and supplied
his own and his neighbcr's table with the
daintiest of fare. We could be reconciled to
this if it were the result of advancing lines
of settlements and immigration improving
the waste places and narrowing in this
legitimate way the haunts of the game. But
the contrary is true. While the emigrants
fail to come and the settlements are stationary
and the waste places yield not to improve
ment, but rather extend their area, We find
q spirit of wanton destructiveness waging
remorseless war against every thing large
enough to shoot at, in season and out Of sea-
son, fat or poor, breeding or not breeding.
This is unmaniy, inglorious. It argues in
gratitude and extreme selfshness. ingrati
tude for the bounties Of God and nature in
making our country SO attractive and 80 varied
in her wealth and resources-ingratitude for
the considerate temperance of the people who,
preceding us in the settlement and civiliza-
ton of the country, have yet Transmitted it to
us unshorn of its sylvan riches, and selfish
ness in our willingness to live only for our
selves, to regard but the present. to kill and
slay, as if we were the very last people Who
would live here, or who would feel pride in
Louisiana, enjoy wild sports in her forests or
epicurean feasts at her hospitable table. We
are very glad the people are moving in this
matter. Let us protect the wild game of Lou
isiana while there is any to protect
The white man has been protected much,
the negro more, and Mr.. Bergh has, with
lAudable zeal, inaugurated crusade for the
protection OF domestic animals. Now, let us
protect the poor, hunted. chased and outlawed
game in our forests In SO doing We will
really increase it in abundance. This has
been the result Of protection elsewhere; it
will be 90 here We all know that during the
war-in tho short period Of four years-while
most of the hunters were in the army, and
powder and shot difficult to be had in the
country, that all kinds of game became very
abundant So it will be again, if we can have
. wise game law, we'll administered.
We learn the strongest provision in the
contemplated law is leveled at the shameless,
ignoble numbering of the deer I'VE can call it
nothing else) during high water, when they
are driven by the floods from the dense allu-
vial swamps and forced to escape drowning
by seeking refuge in high places on levees,
mounds and narrow ridges. This murder
business during the unusual overflow of last
year was waged most pitilessly everywhere
by certain classes. On the Atchafalaya and
in its adjacent woods the deer were almost
extinguished by this cause alone. Some
hunting parties killed a hundred in single
day; in some places chasing them in boats
and cutting their throats while swimming in
The overflow. They were nearly starved and
totally unfit for food, and in many cases were |
left to feed the buzzards when they were |
slain. A few more such floods, without law |
10 protect the deer, and this fine animal will |
bo as rare in the State rs the buffalo now is.
When Bienville and Iberville camped on the |
shores of Biloxi and founded there q new
smpire, they fed their men on the buffalo.
which were then roaming over the whole Gulf
coast. Not two centuries have passed, and |
yet the lordly bison has been driven half way |
to the Pacific. and in . few years more must
be numbered among the things which have
been. Let it not be SO with everything which |
has wild life Let us stay the hand of ex-
Termination before II 10 <cr 1o%o T.ok nc nrO. /