The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-11
THE GAME BILL.
How 1t Reads as 1t Was
Passed.
Amendments Have Been Made Which
Give General Satisfaction
to Sportsmen.

SDOrtsmen of the city and State have
manifested particular interest in the result
of the fight in the Legislature over the
Emeric game bill. which has been passed
by the Legislature and sent to the Governor
with the amendments suggested by the rep
reSentatives OF the State SpOrtsmen's Pro-
tective Association inserted.
AS previously stated in THE CALL. the
good measures of the bill, as presented to
the Assembly by Mr.. Emer!c. were not in
terfered with by the committee that repre-
sented the spOrtsmen OF this city. The OBJ
jectionable features, or. in other words, the
sections of the bill which caused a howl Of
Indignation from the lovers OF the chase of
this city who are not affiliated with gun
clubs were killed in the Senate and several
amendments substituted.
The important features of the bin as it
has been passed are rs follows:
ut shall be unlawful in this State, be-
tween March 1 and September /, to hunt
Kill, destroy or have in possession, dead or
alive, except for the purpose of propagation,
any quail, partridge, grouse or any kind Of
wild duck, snipe or rail"
The d0ve-shOOtng season is closed be-
tween March l and August1.
The old law which has protected deer.
elk, antelope, mountain sheep, etc, at all
seasons has been amended SO as to read:
Every person who, in the State of Cali
fornil, shall within the two years next. ex-
cept bet" cen September 1 and October Is in
each year, after the passage Of this act hunt,
pursue, take, kill or destroy any male deer,
elk, antelope, mountain sheep or buck, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanOr"
In reference TO this change in the deer
law there have been a number oil spOrtsmen
who, although in favor of open seasons, OPP
posed the passage of an act permitting the
killing of deer al the time stated in the new
bill. They thought that the open season
should be from July l to September /, as
during these months the male deer are
separated from the female deer and fawns.
Wiser heads who are of q different opinion
approve of the bill as it now reads, and as a
reason for their approval they state that If
the season for deer-sh0otIng was from July
to September q large number of fawns
which would be able to take care of them
selves in September and October, would
meet with quick slaughter i'm the campers
season Notwithstanding the fact that only
male deer can be killed at any time Of the
year.
The law in reference to green hides, skins.
etc, is the same As Of old. with the excep-
ton Of the cold storage, which reads:
Every cold storage company, person
keeping cod-storage warehouse. tavern,
or hotel-keeper, restaurant or eating-house
keeper, marketman or other person who
shall sell, expose or offer for sale, or give
away or have in his possession in this State
any deer, quail, b0bwhite, partridge,
pheasant, grouse, dove or wild duck during
the time 1t shall be unlawful 10 Kill such
animal nr bird, shall be guilty of INSIDE
meauor."
This is an excellent measure, as it will
stop the sale Of the game above mentioned
IN restaurants, hotels, etc, during a season
when il will be unlawful TO XIII the same.
According to the old law game can be sold
in restaurants, etc, under the old preteXt Of
cold storage, and as a consequence the
Game Commissioners have been powerless
to secure conviction.
The law in reference TO deer further
states that every person in this Safe who
shall at any time sell or offer for sale tie
hide or meat Of any deer, elk, antelope or
mountain sheep shall be guilty Of a mis-
demeanor.
Thus it will be seen that our large game,
Notwithstanding the few weeks of an open
season, Will be well protected by the pro-
visions of the new game bill as 1t passed the
Senate.
The killing Of pheasants is prohibited in
this State for two years after the passage of
the bill.
Market hunters and those who have made
the slaughter of wild game a business
will be Interested in this section of the new
game bill:
Every person who shall use a shotgun
OF larger caiber than that commonly
known and designated as number 1O-gauge
wild duck, rail. quail, partridge, pheasant
or grouse, shall be guilty of a misde-
meanOT."
This is an amendment which meets with
the approval Of all sportsmen. and if nigh
shooting was also made an Oifeuse the law
in this respect would read all the better.
Now then comes the amendment to the
Emerlc bill which caused the great distur-
bancP. 1t is in reference to uninclosed and
iucl0sed lands. The Emeric bill in its
original form read that any person entering
upOn any ground whether Inclosed or unin-
closed that was properly posted with tres
pass notices, without having had the per-
mission of the owner or lessee, was guilty
of misdemeanOr, etc.
This has been changed so as 10 read:
Every person who, upon any incl0sed or
cultivated grounds which are private prop
eriy, and where signs are displayed forbid
ding such shooting. shall shoot any quail,
bobwhiie, pheasant partridge. grouse, dove
or Wild duck, without permission first OBJ
tanned from the owner or person in possess
sion Of such grounds, shall be guilty of a
msdemeanOr."
The gun tax mentioned in the Emeric bill
has heen shot TO pieces. The friends Of the
bill generally expect that the Governor will
approve l.