National Republican., 1884-04-08
PROTECTION OF GAME.
Objections to Mr.. Barbour's BIZ Urged
by n Practical Sportsman.

Capital City Gun club, yesterday lald before
the commissioners a letter setting forth tho
features of the Barbour game
bill, and pointing out its faults and incon-
sistencies. The communication will be read
with interest by all who are interested in
game laws and cunning. 1t is given below in
full:
To THE HoNoRABLE COMMISSIONERS OF
THE DISTRICT OF Gentlemen: I
have the honor to hand you herewith n copy
of tho bill (H. r., No. 56l2), introduced by
Hon. John S. Barbour, March 3, 1884, en-
titled, "a Bill for the Protection of Game in
the District of Columbia" which bill is now
in your hands for the consideration and
recommendation by reference from tho com
mittee for the District of Columbia, house of
representatives.
At the suggestion Of Hon. Commissioner
West, | take the liberty of making some sug-
pestions in regard to the bill, which, IL fol-
lowed WILL / am sure, make II more accepta-
bio to the sportsmeu and game dealers in tho
district, and at the same timo secure quite as
effectively tho objects for which it was intro
duced.
Section should be amended by striking
out the words 'or woodCock," in lin5 8, and
a new section, to be numbered "2," be in
serted, to read as follows:
SrC. 9. That no person shall or expose for sale
or have in either his or her possession, either dead
or alive, any woodCook, between the first day of
January and the fifteenth day OF June, under u
penalty of s. for each bird so killed or in posses
sion.
Argument in support of this recommenda-
tion-The general laws of the states of Vir-
GINA and Delaware permit woodcocks to be
killed between July 1 and January !, and
the general laws of Maryland allow them to
be killed between June Is and Feb. l. The
laws of this district should be in harmony
with those Of the adjoining states. Those at
all familiar with natural history know that
woodcock breed in this vicinity as early as
March, and their young are grown by the
middle of June. At the approach OF cold
weather they, with the birds that breed fur
ther north, migrate to tho warmer latitudes
of the south. Should the proposed bill pass
without modification, allowing woodcock to
be killed only during the months Of Noyem-
Der and December, the sportsmen of the dis.
trict would be deprived almost wholly of the
pleasure and recreation which the pursuit of
this bird affords and the sick. to whom they
are great delicacy, would be deprived of the
only game bird which ia in condition to BIO
eaten during the summer months
Section of tho bill provides that prairie
chickens and pheasants (rufiied grouse) NAV
be killed or had in possession between the
first day of September and the first day of
February.
This section Ito be numbered 81 should be
amended by striking out the word Feb
ruary" in line 4, and inserting the word jan
uary" in its stead.
Argument-It is we'll known that the
prairie chicken is becoming scared in the
west each year. Indeed in Illinois, where
they were very numerous few years ago.
one is rarely seen now, and / share the
opinion with many who have given this sub
ject consideration that the increase of bugs
and insects, so destructive to the grain crops
of the west, is largely attributable to the
diminution of these birds. Before tho small
grain is ripened and harvested they subsist
almost wholly upon grasshoppers and other
insects. To allow them to be exposed for sale
in our markets here up to February l is but
to invite the "pot-hunters" of the west to
take advantage of the deep SHOWS and ex-
treme cold in January to trap them when
the season has closed when they may be le-
galy killed. and, through the medium of the
game dealers in Chicago and elsewhere, who
are quite IS ready to violate the law, ship
them surreptitously to our markets as "poul-
try" or other commodities.
For these reasons the section should be
amended to prohibit their sale after Janu-
ary l. ,.,.
& The same section places "pheasants" (rufled
grouse) in the same category with prairie
chickens, and proposes to allow them to be
killed up to Feb. /. What inconsistency To
allow partridges (quail(, which multiply
much more rapidly, to be killed only between
Nov. l nd Jan. l, and permit this, the nobles'
of all American game birds to be killed from
Sept. to Feb. l. The season should be from
Sept. when their young grown to Jan.
as provided in my proposed amendment.
Section 8 of the bill provides that rabbits
and squirrels may be killed between the first
day of November and the first day of jan
uary.
The section Ito be numbered y should be
amended by striking out the words animal
of the hare or rabbit species, or any of the.
in line 3 the word Species" in line 4, ant
the word November" in limo 8. The wore
! September" should be substituted for thu
word November" stricken out in lines.
A new section, to be numbered s, should b,
inserted, to read as follows:
| SEC. g. That no person shall kill, or expose
for sale, OF have in either his or her posses
sion, either dead or alive, any animal of tn
hare or wild rabbit species between the frs
day of January and tho first day of No
vember, under penalty of 20 for each ami
NAL SO killed or in possession.
The change suggested will permit squirrel
to be killed between Sept. and Jan. in
stead of limiting the time when they may b
killed to the months of November an,
December. 1t is we'll known that squirrel
are grown by the first of September, whe
they are more suitable for the table, Us the
are young and tender The pursuit of then
in the months of September and October
when cutting" as their feeding upon nut
is termed, is most fascinating enioymen
atTordng pleasant and beneficial recreation
at a season when other game may not
lawfully killed.
The other sections of the bill meet m
approval, and FROM comparison of view
upon this subject with the members of th
gun club here-numbering over forty praC
tical sportsmen-and many other gentleme
interested in field sports" and the "prt
lection of game" in the district, know thu
nine-tenths Of those whose interests will
affected by the bill concur fully with me
these recommendations, which l trust ma
receive your favorable consideration.
DosT thou love life? Then do not squand
valuable time, for that Is the stuff life is made
but procure at once II bottle of Dr. Bulls Coul
syrup for your cough and be cured. Your dru