The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-10-10
FISH AND. GAME PROJECTION.

upona cultivated public sentiment to sustain
the enforcement 81 sach laws Us may be
enacted, II is idle, except apon matters
strictly criminal n themselves. to eafors.
I Legislation il opposition 70 public opinion
and TIE current Of that public opinion has
long set in the direction Of the most unre'
sticted liberty OF individual action. Tho
American people are proud to compare ..sitb
perfect freedom in the pursuit Of gbiob IL
the tyrranical laws Of Emf" apparently !
nit the enjoyment q, e. one 10 the use Of
natural and nav. And their pride is
the Since natural liberty finds among
4 Jas'aien 20 moro noble and instructive out
let for manly impulse than is afforded BY
the pursuit Of game. That liberty has
made the Southern people especially, ma
ton Of marlsmen. and has prepared them
to be, where the occasions demanded,
nation Of soldiers. Good policy, if nothing
more. would point TO the security Of sill
these individual Liberties consistent with
public good. and consonant to altered con-
ditions. Il is to guide and control those
impulses. and to secure to all equal share
in the pursuit and use Of game and fish that
Legislative direction is now finding its place
upon the statute book Of the Southern
States.
When we recall the fact. that in the past.
6sh and game both contributed largely 70
the comfort Of life and adding greatly TO the
economy Of living BY cheap aud ready
abundance and when we contrast the pres
ent poverty of such resources. li.tlo re-
Fiction will satisfy every class Of our pOPu>
lstion tina. both public and private good are
subseryed BY the enactment and enforce
nent Of general game laws; not laws giving
exclusive rights to favored parties or indi-
yiduals; not laws prohibiting totally tho
killing or taking certain birds, animals or
fish but laws founded upon tho laws Of ma
ture. and respecting those laws Of our CON-
mon and bountiful mother providing for the
propagation Of species and the protection Of
the helpless young
The people themselves have feebly reach
ed out in this direction. awaiting themselves
Of that power under the Law to exclude
trespassers upon their lands BY the process
Of posting. But these are individual acts,
and they are of.on invidious and offensive
ones. The public must all work together,
which they will do. when they learn to
think and feel together on this interesting
subject.
The Legislation Of North Carolina has adj
vanced slowly in the desired direction. Yet
il has been set in motion; and. IS public
interest is enkindled. will move more bold
ly and efficiently. The last Legislature
prohibited the expectation Of partridges
from the State. This was the frat general
Law on this subject. Certain counties pro-
cured the passage Of laws, prohibiting The
shooting Of partridges between the FIRST d
March and tho first Of October. Deer are
protected in certain seasons. Fish arc Sc
cured unoLstructed passage in certain ri
veu. and protected from too lavish use in
certain bays and cstuaries. And tho De-
psrtinent Of Agriculture is charged with the
supervision Of al measures Cor the protec.
tion, propagation. and culture Of fish in the
rivers and other inland waters Of the State.
Upon this department depends the sugges.
ton Of oil needed legislation 10 carry out
and prOtec. their undertakings.
Aad this Is the exten. 70 which North
Carolina has gO0e only beginning; and
yet . beginning.
Virginia 10 regard to fsh has gone about
as far. 10 regard 70 game, she has gOno
much farther. her laws being moro striu.
gcnt. and embracing q greater variety Of
birds. Pariridges may not be killed or
captured Or offered for sale between the frs.
day d February and TIE FIRST day o. No.
veniber. aud trapping and netting are ab.
soluiely prohibited for two years beginning
March goth 1877. pbcasauis are not 70
be killed or captured between February Is,
aud Angus, Isl. wooJeOcks are protect
Cd. Robins cannot be killed between April
LIT and November 1T; and cut birds, tic
brown thrush, red birds, wrens, wood
thrush. blue birds and martins may not be
tilieSat al Of their nests destroyed. Wild
turkeys may Dot be killed or captured be-
iwoen the i, Of February and the Ist Of
November. nor az any timo be CAPTURED n