The morning call., 1893-03-12
THE GUN.
The Emeric Game Bill as 1t Now
Reads

Reads.
The committee from the Sportsmen's Pro-
tective Association appointed to visit Sac
ramento during the meeting of the Legisla-
ture TO protest against the obnoxious meas
ures of the Emeric game bill returned after
victorious campaign, having had the bill
so amended and altered as TO please all
sportsmen, with the exception OF the few
who favored class legislation.
AS stated in Yesterdays CALL, the bill
as it now reads, with the "aristocratic''
features stricken out and several good
amendments added, cannot possibly fail to
please sportsmeu who shoot during the
open seasons and favor the protection of
game during the months when it is unlaW-
tul to kill the same.
Had il not been for a few measures which
Mr.. Emeric introduced in his bill relative
to posted lands and taxes on guns, there
would not have been the least opposition
to his scheme as regards the propagation
and protection of game birds and animals
In conversation with some of the gentle
men who argGe in favor of the protection
OF ducks, which they contend can only be
accomplished by the Inauguration of pre-
serves, the question WAS asked: "Are the
birds which happen upon the lands leased
by gun clubs better protected than the
featheTed game which frequent open lands
where treSpass is not an offense?"
The answer was quickly given in the
affirmative, and by way Of explanation the
sportsman said:
u have noticed within the past few years
great falling of in the number of ducks
that frequent our marsh lands during the
shooting season, and | can say positively
that unless there will be some measure by
which the birds can be protected from pro-
miscuous slaughter the time is very near at
hand when we will have no ducks to shoot
| W ich -
the only way, my dear sir, that we can ever
hope to see our game multiply"
The next questions in reference to duck
preserves" we're stickers which the sports
man under interview could not answer.
They were these:
Are you not aware that several of the
leading members of gun clubs who have
leased hundreds OF acres of the best duck
shooting lands of the Susun marshes have
slaughtered as many as 200 birds in a days
shnot?"
IF game is to increase by the system of
protection, as you suggest, do you consider
that the killing of as many birds as stated
in one days shooting is sportsmanlike and
beneficial to the game interests of the
State?"
The interview ended here, and as the
interviewer was about to depart the sports
man who favored duck preserves" re-
marked that he could not see any reason
why the Interests of any man who could
afford the pleasure of shooting should not
be protected whether his land Is inclosed or
open.
There are hundreds of young men-and
old men. for that matter-in this city whose
principal amusement is duch-shootlng in
the open season.
They cannot afford 10 expend several
hundred dollars annually in the building of
costly clubhouses and the employment of
gamekeepers, etc, and, as a Consequence,
they are content to take pot luck when they
go upon the open marsh lands. They feel
decidedly happy when they return from a
days shoot with dozen birds.
This is the class of sportsmeu that Mr..
Emerlc and his friends attempted to debar
from the field by a law which was cOnsid-
cred by the Sportsmen's Protective Asso-
citation of this city as being obnoxious and
un-American.
Evidently surmising that this bill would
meet with defeat should it be opposed by
sportsmen who object to class legislation.
another bill by Mr.. Flint taxing guns was
introduced.
This latter bill, 1t was thought, would. If
passed, protect the duck" clubs from the
encroachment of a class of hunters who
could not afford TO pay the county tax
Unfortunately for the clubs neither bill
proved successful, and the keepers of the
''marsh" preserves will in future. have to
resort TO their old system of floating a red
rag when trespassers are about, so that the
"pond-fed" game will keep well out of
range of the "enemies'" guns
The law relative to inclOsed lands is ex-
cellent and will, no doubt, be respected by
all sportsmen regardless of their rank or
station.
Home game should be well protected and
the farmers as well as the sportsmen have
begun to realize the necessity of protecting
Calitornia's champion game bird. the quail.
1t Will be seen by n reference to yester-
days CALL, which published the amend
ments to tie Emeric game bill, that the sea-
son when it VIII be lawful to shoot deer is
rather late TO suit majority of local sports
men.