The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-13
A GOOD SUGGESTION.
Violators of the Game Laws and the I'm
portance of Prosecuting them.

To the Editor Of the Post:
Yesterday saw a number Of boys IRON
the city and one man, who claims to be
sportsman, killing birds in violation Of
the laws of the State 1t is $500 fine to
kill partridge, or any song bird and has
been ever since the first day of January
Yet some men whom | talked to, and who
keep dogs and guns for sport, did not
know, or professed not to know that there
was anv "close season" in Southwest Viz
ginia. Undoubtedly there are many who
do not know anything of the law for pro-
lection of game and song birds. and who
do not hesitate to destroy any kind OF
birds, at any season of the year. have
seen many useful and beautiful birds kill
ed bv bows and men just for the pleasure
of killing And think the true sports
men Of the country and the'lovers OF song
birds should take the trouble to make the
laws more generally known to the people
and also see that the laws are enforced.
Much could he accomplished by simply
talking to boys, and pointing out the cruel
tv and damage done. Birds arc OF the
greatest value to the farmers and thereb!
to the whole community, but few OF them
have any idea of the real value of oul
birds. Through the local press, which is
always ready to advocate any measure OF
use to the people, we could disseminate
better knowledge of the value of our
birds, which would help greatly to protect
them. And few examples made OF those
who persist in unlawful destruction, would
deter many who now want only to de-
stroy any and ali birds which fall in then
way. There are some men in this com
munity who profess to he true sports
men," who make pra. ticc OF violating
the game laws of the State and any mum
Der of boys who do not hesitate to shoot
cartridges even in the summer time. ono
bow confessed to me that he took the eggs
from sixteen partridge nests during one
Sunday last summer, and boiled and ate
| them.
A few years ago Powel's river and it,
tributaries were full of fish, and any ono
could catch good mess IN an noun
or two; but lawless persons nave killed al
the fish, even minnows, with dynamite and
other unlawful means. The proper State
officer has offered to stock our rivers with
small fish and eggs if we would protect
| them.
All "truc sportsmen' should interest
themselves enough in this matter to sec
| that the laws for protection OF fish and
game are respected. The laws are sui
ticient for protection, if sportsmcn would
see that they are enforced, and any
| one caught violating them prosecuted
Report TO a Magistrate whose duty it is on
proper proof to fine them for each and
every off'cnse. There are a number OF
"true sportsmcn" in the community. who
engage day in the field with gun and
dogs, or along the river banks with the
rod and | hope that each and every one
of them will take time and trouble to re-
port all offenders in the future.
Let all true sportsmen in this communi-
tv meet and organize club, for protect
ton OF fish, game and song birds, and let us
tax ourselves enough to employ man or
men to see that the laws are enforced
against offenders, so that fish and game
will not be exterminated, and when we go
out to enjoy ourselves, in legitimate and
sportsman like way, we may find both
game and fish for our time and trouble
Let lis hear from brother sportsmcn.
Yours Respectfully, SPOKESMAN.
| TURKEY Cow. Feb. 10th.