Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-07

CUTTING u.LxeALLY PLACED sEIxEs IN
THE ALIxoHESIEs-
are the growth Of successive legisla-
lures. The demand to-day In game
legislation IL not so much for changes
as to seasons In which game and Gsh
may be taken ~ IL is for the codifyina
and simplificstion Of existing laws, and
a code which shall be simple. consistent
in all its parts and Ineligible There
is also much less need Of passing new
laws than of enforcing the present
statutes In most cases the provisions
of the game lawn are wise. and If car.
ried out would be effective. That they
are not enforced Is due to want OF pub
lie interest In the subject A game
statute does not appeal TO the
ordinary individual. He has no
special interest In shooting and dsh-
ing. and consequently is lulrewarm ~
to the preservation of fish and game
The effect Of constant tinkering Of the
laws IL to diminish respect for them. A
game season once adopted should be
maintained No great regard il to be
asked for a woodcock law, for instance.
which permits July shooting one year,
forbids IL the next and the third allows
It again. Such statute, changed at the
within Of successive legislatures, II re
garded a. IN arbitrary and unreason.
able interference with shooting privi-
legcs. rather than . wise limitation
based on reason.
The New York game law, enacted In
tho year 1879. has been 10 modified By
the tiukering Of every legislature from
that time to 1859 down, that many Of its
provisions are obscure and complex.
and their correct Interpretation purely
conjecture. In 1890 the Legislature pro-
vided for . special committee to codify
and revise the fsh and game laws
This committee was made up Of Cen
r. u. Sherman. representing the New
York fish commission; Hon r. b
Roosevelt, representing the New York
City Association for the Protection Of
Game, and Assistant Attorney General
Whitaker. They prepared for the
session Of !. 1891 . bill which
was In tho main excellent, and
which might have been adopted
but for one unfortunate provision
which sought to legislstc fish comma
siouers out Of Office. The term Of the
codincation committee was extended to
givc them an opportunity of comforting
with Representatives Of the Canadian
provinces with reference 70 cooperative
fishery legislation for the ST. Lawrence
river and the great laixea The bill Of
1881, with some alterations made BY
the committee. has again been intro
duced this year. While there IL per-
haps room for . difference Of opinion
ss to some Of It's provisions, IT is. as .
whole. an excellent measure. and the
legislation cen do no greater service TO
dsh and game interests Of the state
than 20 adopt IL and then TO refrain
from mcddling with the subject
The New York State association for
the protection OF ash and game was
originally organized for the purpose Of
securing desired Regulation and assist
ing in the enforcement OF the laws. II
drifted from this purpose. however, and
In tina was devoted wholly 70 trap
shooting. Following The annual tour
nameut Of the association Last summer.
Gen. q. Il. Bruce. Of Syracuse. wrote
20 the Forest and Stream. suggesting
that tho clubs belongtng 10 the associa.
ton should meet In = convention 10:
the consideration Of the game question
To this suggestion Mr. Horace White, OF
Syracuse. the president Of the associa
ton. added his endorsement AID
the result has been the call.
Ing Of . meeting 20 be held n
Syracusp. "a February 10. n which Il il
expected delegates from very man,
game clubs win he present. represent
ing all the sections at the state. The
codincatiea bin viii be considered by
them. and n h hoped the convention
viii urge npoa the Legislature its s<sop
ties
n $500