Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-14
The Game Law,

The Game Law
MEssRs. EDIToRs-The Game Law, as report
ed by the commission appointed to reconstruct il,
was imperfect and unjust in some particulars.
For instance, that portion Of it relating to coast
shoe ing Of ducks did injustice to people in that
locality, but 1t has been remedied by an amend
ment, and justce done them. What is wanted in
this law (as in all laws i, to have its provisions
such ; to subserge the purposes for which it is
intended
tn, re is one feature in it now which does great
injustice to rs la the interior of the State Near
y all the shooting we have is brush shooting,
which comprises WOO icock and partridge ouly.
Now wish to ask he members of the Legsla-
ture, If have not the right to ask that
good and wholesome law should cover this class
well as other asses If tue c1mmss on had
merely copied the law on the statute book, they
would have done tie best thing that could have
been doue, As | will proceed TO show.
For some years previous to two wears ago, the
close time ON wood:ock ended July Attn,
but that was too early IN my opinion; shoulI
we consider what inc it should close IN Name,
II they were considered independent of partridge,
should say August lst would be the time. The
close season woodcock closes now in Massa-
Chusetts on Ju y 4th.
When >portsmen were allowed to shoot wood
cock after july 4th, from that time iii Sept. lst,
when the close time parttidges closed, there
were :nuumeTabe Partridge slaughtered while
huLt ng woodcOck-nO one was prosecuted for so
doing, and the law WAS dead letter. Now, what
was 10 be donei Why, the ony way was have
the close tune for both the SAM, am the Legis-
lature two years ago, after a patient hearing,
made the law AS it should be, since which time l
b We never known of the law being broken, and
the birds were full protected.
What does this Diil as it now stands, propose
to 90 Why, noting more nor less th.u u %
back 10 a Jaw which proved dead letter on the
statute book, and va, discarded for a better one.
When he matter comes b, foe the House,
shall submit au amen meut pacing the ia" as rc-
gard, brush shooting Just where II mas been Tor
the las, to yea
sporl,inen gave up their July and August wood
coch shooting in order TO make the close season
on lodco, X aud pa. nil !e unifIrm, and have
law Which would be respected and one which
could be emf re-, d.
The fact /, land it is no use to try to wink it out
Of sht) ny law you say to sportsmen that they
u,a, 20 oIu,n hoo iug, tuey aIe going TO shoot
"ha ever III ds tnei dogs pat up, that l., II they
eau.
Ii any one tells you that you can hunt woodcock
and not hunt trtiidge,, make up your mud that
thal person is gunner and knows nothing about
it AID you'll never have occasion TO change your
mlnd elther.
10 suppose that gunner, in the month of Sep
TENDER, WITH all the foliage on the brush and tail,
rank weeds beueatn his feet. Is going 10 get
CHI nee to look Ond carefully over, and decide
wh,tner II Is "a partridge Or woodcock before
hootne, to suppose that which Will never come
to pas, law or 10 law.
We III kennebec county would like law on
th, subject which wul ne practical and one which
can be enforced If the law Is made wha, 1t
should he we shall organize the "kennebec Asso-
cation foI the Protection OF ish and Came but
II II Is left as il is w in hi, bill 1t would be the
rest farce 10 atemp, to enforce II, and do not
he,it,ie to soy that every -poi t,man would b eak
II many time, during the first fifteen day. Ia Sep
tembei--uot from "A wish TO break the law, but
because they Ike cunning and would duilng Il at
fifteen DAYS have no law that could be adhered to.
Partridge and wO0dcock are both full grown
Sent it, 30 there should he no hesitation in clos
ing the close time then. Now, as to The close Ct
the sLo tiug season, providing we commence the
season - pit. lst. As TO closing time on wood
cock We uced give ourselves no trouble, as they
close II themselves by migrating when the ground
freezes rs to when the shooting season should
close ou partridge, ones judgment j., perhaps,
Rood a suo hers; 1t i. hard to fix the date, but
the line Is when the snow covers the ground.
The past year. the 18Th OF December would have
done very well, bat the first day of December will
prove iignt Of cner than II will wrong, and | be-
lie,e We lould give the benefit Of any doubt In
favor OF the bId-, a it Is sheer murder to shoot
thtm after the snow ha. covered the ground and
they compeltd 10 resort 10 Tue trees Tor buds.
GU which 10 >ubsist.
have sad more than intended, but hope to
attain two objects namely:
l,i To secure law on brush shooting that
wlil p at ct the BIRDS
2. 10 get such a law as Will be effective and
ONT that be enforced.
Nv amendment Sill amount to merely this
taking of fifteen DAYS from the last of the shoot
ing season on paittidges and put ing hlt' en- days
On the first pat, leaving the duration of season
same a. the bill. This change will be to the ad-
vantage OF the birds as there would net be so
many XII ed the fret fifteen days in September
there would DE slaughtered tne first fifteen days