New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-18
COMMUNICATED
The Preservation OF Wild Game.
New ORLEANS. April II, 49,

NEW ORLEANS. April IL, 1919.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
My attention has been called 70 proposed
enactment for the consideration of the pres
ent General Assembly of Louisiana for the
protection OF wild game in this State. and
tie only wonder in my mind is that such a
law has not found its way to our statute
books long ere this. The Importance of the
subject, the preservation of wild game, can
scarcely be overrattd aud is fully evidenced
by the Jealous care manifested by the laws
and customs Of the half civilized and even
barbarous people from time immemorial.
Ii in the earlier ages Of the world, when
mankind were "few and far betH Gen. when
the primeval forests afforded an ample
range and almost impenetrable shield to
the wild beasts, fowls of the air and creep
ing things after their own kind it was
deemed necessary and polite to make some
provision against their wanton and unneces-
sary destruction, much more necessary is
If TO institute needed protection against i'm
provident and unthinkipg waste at time
when men have replenished the earth, tn @
| multitude OF inhabitants has increased
their necessities enlarged. and the natural
defenses Of those animals Almighty Low @
aud foresight created tor the wants and
comfort OF mankind have been leveled to
the plain. and they have become helplessly
exposed TO the cruelty and rapacity OF
unfeeling, reckless humanity. We read in
history of very stringent laws passed by all
nations for the preservation and multiplied.
ton of wild game, and none more SO than
old England, whose rulers exhibited far
seeing wisdom III the enactments they
framed in regard 20 game although
passed ostensibly f5r the sole benefit and
pleasure o. the few and favored ones Of
their country and against the occasional
and professed ''poacher." The practice Of
killing game, particularly out OF season, of
any kind. for mere sport or pastme. can
not be t?o severely reprimandeI or s5s.p,
gently punished.
The cruelty that leads TO the indis.
eliminate and unnecessary slaughter of
beasts OF the field and fowls OF the air,
through q desire OF sport simply, will soon
lead 10 the arbitrary destruction of animal Is
OF higher order and more lasting dura-
ton. Cruelty to animals begots cruel ty
TO man-lnakes man, in process Of
time, inhuman 10 his fellow. and
fills the earth with violence. Game
laws, by preventing the indulgence and
exercise Of cruel feelings act as q harmon
izer Of our feelings. Again, il IS sdmitte d
by all who are entitled to give au opinio
in such matters that wild game is more
easily dgested, and, therefore more healthy
than any or al other kinds Of meat. Same
laws, then, are sanitary as well as marciful,
and these two features alone, apart from
other important considerations, render them
both wholesome and desirable. The whole
sale destruction Of wild turkeys, grouse,
quail, etc, by enticing them into snares
and pens, Or crat'Lil.y driving them into
nets, is rigLttaily and properly forbidden.
especially during the period nature has set
aside for procreation and increase, and the
penalty for so doing should be such as to
promptly and perpetually break Up this
w;llful practice. As an article Of diet they
are esteemed both iJr health and for
vivant," and it is cur duty ana interest to
guard agains. their decrease and externi-
nation. Let Us have q good game law by
all means, q. b. L.