Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-13
BETTER GAME LAWS.
THE INCOMING LEGISLATURE WILL
az ASKED TO MAKE CHANGES.
President MiIier's Animal Report 70 the
Fisid-sporn Associstion-Bu'i-
ness Transacted.

The Nlmrods OF the virginia fleiu
Sports Association held their eighth an
nuaI meeting In the office OF the southern
Planter yesterday morning at lO oc'ocA'
and transacted much business looking 10
the protection Of their interests ana the
preservation OF game in this state
Mr.. Polk Miller, the president Of the or
ganlzation, occupied the chair. whiie MT
John W. Pierce acted as secretary.
After the regular routine work always
incident 10 the opening OF such meetings
Mr. Miller submitted his annual report
which was "a follows:
RICHMOND. october II, 1885,
Gentlemen Of the Virginia Field sports
Association:
''Since our meeting in october last. ana
as there was no session of our LEGISLATURE
last winter. nothing has occurred wnlch
would iuatify me In boring you WIN
long address. | will state. however u'"'
q most serious disaster In the way OIL
killing snow came upon US ana Almost
entirely destroyed the par'ridges IN hld"y
counties in the State.
rrr BIRDS WERE SAVED.
"southslde Virginia seemed to suner
more from the effects OF TINS Ns'.h-
ton than any other portion ol t"' 80,
tboueh n few counties on the North she
below Richmond suffered as much. APP
pealed to the people to do all IN thelr
power TO protect them. and we ar" III
debtcd TO the newspapers INTRODUCTORY we
STATE for their kindly aid In puDllsh"is
without charge the several appeals male
to our farmers to feed the starving plrus.
| offered 10 pay % cents a pair Tor al,
that were trapped and fed ana turhed
Vaa
Iooa- in the localities In when they WtIt
caught when the snow had ulSappedi'''
! was very much gratiied 10 learn thAt
vhil. q great many were caught ana
turned loose and the fact reported 70 me-.
H. u.nrly every instance ] was ttsh 'ila'
they ha. done so from personal interest
I'm the preservation OF the game. ana they
would accept no reward for doing u'at
which was not only duty but n pleaSuIe'
In a few cases. little boys and girls sent
me the certificates Of the poStmasterS IN
their respective localities TO the elI'ct
that a certain number OF blruS Hd'' ~.
turned loose IN their presence by the
children. and | sent them the money "S
advertised To the noble women OF IN"
Commonwealth We are indebted for the
prompt relief brought about 10y my appeal
through thu press. Tor II aroused a s'ntl-
nart among them which was AZ once felt
bv the men, and in several Instances ]
had men to tell me that their wives would
ask them daily the question: Have YOU
fed those birds yet?
URGED TO CATCH HAWKS.
Il supplied many farmers with hawk
traps. and great many oil tn',e
destructive pests nave D''n klIIId.
one gentleman told me mat lc
had killed sixteen In two weeks, while
others nave told me Of having caught a
dozen or more in the past few months.
If our farmers would take the trouble 10
set these traps on stack-poles in their
fields IL would do more towards their
determination than 10y shooting them. /
feel sure that for the amount eNP'nhtd
by me IN the purchase Of the traps ana III
distributing the same among the farmers
We have Ttdpcd rich returns l am bidl
70 r,pDrt that some OF tn most dfNrut
admirers Of the plan Of having no laws FOR
game In certain counties nave com"
over to our side now. ana on or these
advocates will be- a member of the com
ing legislature and upon him. country o.
man. have already laid the burden "'
the game bill. which was offered TO our
last Assembly. which was rejected through
the influence OF q few men VINO Wrt- a.
ignorant Of what the game law SNoul4 ~"
as I am 10 what will r"Stor" coniidehr"
and break up the panicky feeling which
now exists with regard 10 the finances VI
our country.
In addition 70 the game bin, as II was
presented 10 the last Legislature ] would
suggest that the question OF the ship
m'nt OF game out OF the state be- dis
cuss d. ana bill passed TO prevent tn"
same. Other States have these laws, and
We should follow suit. ! would suggest
that a committee be appointed TO draft
such laws as would give us such protec-
ton as We need, and that they appear
before the Committee Of Game IN the
next General Assembly and urge is pas
sage"
The report Of the treasurer which
showed a balance OF $229.55. was presented
and received.
WANT BETTER LAWS.
The president made forcible appeal to
the association in behalf OF "A game law,
and recommended the appointment of a
committee To appear before the Legisld-
tur- 70 advocate the passage Of a law
that would Doe acceptable To- all sections
and give the best protection 10 all the
game in every section OF the STATE.
After the discussion of Mr. Millcr's
suggestions. the election Of officers took
place. The Offices OF secretary and
treasurer were merged into one,
and with this exception all the
old officers were reelected as
follows: Polk Miller. president; John ".
Pierce. secretary and treasurer, yice-prrSi-
dents-ThOAlas j. Crowder for the Upper
Valley; H. III. Downy, Lower Valley;
II. ). Williams, Tidewater; Julius T..
Mason. Northern Neck; W. j. Hubbard.
Piedmont: Robert q. Southall, SouthslIe,
Wynham Robertson. Southwest.
Executive Committee-Jo 5. Wise. W.
1 Hubbard A w Ball w. a. Hubbard