Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-16
Game Protection.

EDS. CHRONICLE A meeting
was held on Nov. 4th, 1878, in this
city at which an association was
formed under the name of the Mont
gomery Game Protective Associa-
ton. Capt w. A. Elliott, who WAS
called to the chair, stated in q
few words that the meeting was
called after consultation between a
number of gentleman for the pur-
pose of rectifying the present game
law as to close and open season, as
well as to see that the laws are car
ried out properly.
Judge Legare offered the follow
ing preamble and resolutions, as
well as the draft of a constitution
for the association
Whereas, It has become necessary
for the preservation of game, now
fast becoming extinct, that an assO-
citation should exist for the protec-
ton of the same, by enforcing the
present law and influencing the en-
actment of such further laws as may
be found necessary TO accomplish
this end;
Resolved, That we, the subscrib-
ers, bind ourselves, under the name
of the Montgomery County Game
Protective Association" to do all in
our power O,enforce the law for the
protection of game, and we pledge
our honor to promote and carry out
this object by giving notice to the
association of all violations of the
game law that may come to our
knowledge.
The resolution was adopted by
the meeting, as the draft of a con-
stitution, and signed by all present.
The following officers were then
elected:
President-Judge w. W. Legare.
Vice President-COl. 7. d. Leon
ard.
Second Vice Edward
Drane.
Secretary and Treasurer-Prof.
% ~ 1DIONlhS.
Then followed a general discus
sion upon the best seasons for pro-
tecting different kinds If game for
breeding purposes. 1t was univer-
sally agreed that by the law, which
makes the season for shooting be-
gin on Sept. II, the birds are won
tonly destroyed before they are
large enough for food. Also that
the law defeats its object by making
the close season begin Feb. LIST,
thereby rendering it impossible for
any one to shoot snipe, plOver and
similar migration birds at all, since
these do not pass through on their
mort fern journey until March and
April.
rhe following dates were agreed
upon as tine best for the close season,
and petitions to our Representative
to induce a bill carrying them out
are placed at the livery stables and
at J. S. Elders store, which it is
hoped all who are interested the
N ,tter will sign:
The close season for Partridges,
(quaiD grouse, (pheasant) and
woOdcock, from March 1st to Oct.
10; doves, from March 1st to August
1st, and for snipe, plover, ducks,
from May 1T to Sept. LIST.
If our law is changed as stated, it
will give the birds all the needed
time for laying, Matching and rear
ing of broo Is, and if trapping and
netting can be stopped, by which
whole covies are annihilated, and
if sportsmen by general agreement
and proper esprit de corps, would
shoot birds only on the wing and
would also refuse to kill all the
birds to be found on any one place,
we should never have a great
scarcity. OF course, bad seasons,
reaping machines, pOt-hunters,
foxes and vernin of that kind will
produce great havoc among the
game, but mere shooting by sports
men worthy of the name never has
been known to eradicate birds from
a country
1t is to be hoped that a large
number of gentlemen living in the
country will not only join the asso-
citation and thus bind themselves
to report all law-breakers, but that
they will also give Ill tho assistance
in their power to protect the game
against determination. The associ-
alton is extremely anxious to have
all cases Of laW-breaking reported to
any OF its officers, who will STE that
evil-doers are prosecuted.
ny