The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-04
THE GUN.
Have Supervisors Power to Change
the Game Laws?

The game law as ii now reads Is afford
ing mucl adverse comment among sports
men and it is hoped that measures will be
Immediately taken by some OF the sports
mems clubs with view of having the deer
and quail seasons changed which, it is
thought, can b. done under the pres
ent county government bill. Some of
the leading attorneys of this city
have stated that The Supervisors of the
different counties can change the laws so
as to regulate the opening and closing OF
the seasons for game birds and animals.
The opinion of Attorney General Hart
on this question would be of much interest
to sportsmen in general. IS it would SETTLE
a question which Is at present pulling the
minds of lovers of field sports.
Ii the Supervisors of the various coun-
ties of the State can change the State law
which refers 10 game and fish so as to suit
their respective localities, 1t will be, in
deed, good news to the shooting fraternity,
as 1t is a shame according to the law as il
now reads. that quail can be lawfully shot
on the 1st of september in the coast
counties.
! The season may be all right so far as
Los Angeles IS concerned, as the young
birds are pretty we'll advanced at that
time; but the same favorable remarks cam
not be applied when reference Is made TO
quail-shooting in the coast counties.
Experience has shown that in the coun-
ties adjacent to San Francisco qual-shoot-
ing Shou d not be allowed until the latter
part of October.
Unless tile present law IS changed there
will be greater slaughter of young birds
this year than has been known TO take
place since game laws were introduced In
this country.
There ara fifty shooters to-day to the one
n no m oil md
county; besides, every country boy now
owns gun anc general exodus 10 the
hills IN quest of quail will result on Sep
| TENDER next. unless, az previously stated.
the law will be changed before then, giving
/ the Supervisors power to regulate matters
SO as to please sportsmen in general
Thousands of quail which will be shipped
into this city from the southern counties
under the present law will find market
/ in the bottom of the bav. as during the
month Of September :hey cannot possibly
arrive in this city in a fit order for table
| use.
The deer law should also undergo a
change, as during the months of Septem
| Der and October the animals are running
and their flesh then is not by any means
fit for food.
The deer season should open on the 1st
OF July 10 all of the coast counties and
| close on the 15lh of August. The present
law may answer sp0rtsmen who reside in
the far northern counties. but law
makers should remember that California
is pretty big State and that it is not be-
cause oranges flourish in the COUNTY of
Los Angeles in April that similar fruit
should grow rs rapidly and sweetiy in
SiskiyOu County during the same month.
What will apply to oranges in this par
| ticular will also apply to game; hence the
aDsurdity of the present law.
The Country Club will hold its monthly
shoot and opting to-day at its handsome
grounds in Marin County.
The club has secured a special boat to
convey the shooters and their guests from
this city 70 Sausalito. where special train
will be in readiness to speed them over the
picture. que country TO their point of de-
barkation; thence the sghtseers will
be driven 10 the club grounds. a distance
of five miles from Tocaloma.
Five hundred pigeons have been en-
gagged for this particular shoot, an as the
'trappists" are thorough sports men. 1t is
presumed that they will adopt field tactics
and eschew the unsportsmanlike style OF
holding Gnn TO their shoulders when the
order pull" is given.