Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
THE NEW GAME LAWS.
Mr.. Miller Explains tho Changes That Are
Proposed.

ITOpDSfu.
Mr.. Polk Miller. the president OF the
Virginia Field-sports Association, asserts
that, IN consequence OF the very severe
winter last year the game was de-
stroyed in such quantities as to make
hunting this season not only very poor.
but, TO the true sportsman, almost
crime. He says he has not hunted him
self. and the fraternity generally through
out the State have followed his example.
The members OF the association have
done all In their power to encourage
the efforts OF farmers to keep of people
who will Kill the last of flock Of birds.
shooting for the profit entirely. There
is n strong sentiment In the country now
in favor OF game protection, and II has
been brought about by the terrible visi-
tation OF snow in January last. Country
people who thought that game laws were
useless are now clamoring for stringent
laws with regard TO the time OF opening
and closing the shooting season, as well
as for the enforcement Of the penalties
prescribed for their violation.
NEW LAWS PROPOSED.
Mr.. Miller gives the Dispatch the fol-
lowing points concerning the new laws
as proposed by him. and II theg are car
ried through and enforced by the officers
whose duty II Is to do 50 he predicts
that in a short time game will be as
plentiful in Virginia as 1t ever was.
Under the new bill proposed the shoot
ing season for birds opens November LIST,
instead Of October 18th. as heretofore.
1t is claimed that great many birds
are too small to be killed in October.
and, although the real sportsman would
not shoot them. there are many who do,
and the dogs kill large numbers Of young
birds that can't fly out Of their reach.
Hares are protected the same as birds.
This is right, because people who hunt
hares in September and October destroy
young birds unintentonally. The changes
In the deer. turkey. and pheasant law are
immaterial while no change at all Is
asked for in the wild waterfowl laws.
The sportsmen around Norfolk who are
members Of the organization seem to be
satisfied with the law as 1t now stands.
The shipment OF game Of any kind.
dead or alive. by express and railroad
companies IS forbidden, and heavy penal
ties are imposed for each shipment 80
made. when consigned to parties outside
Of the State. Heretofore, many counties
have been paying for the sCalps of game
destroying yarmints. while nelghboring
counties did not The result was that
Louisa found she was paying for Hanover
hawk -scalps, and she, too. stopped pay
ing for them. CThese are mentioned
merely as illustrations)
Under the new law the Boards Of Su-
pervisors with whom IT has been hereto
fore left as n discretionary power are
rarffro1 10 tho cpalpc Of hawks
owls. minks. and foxes. by the general
law OF the Commonwealth. Sportsmen
consider this feature of the law the most
valuable Of all, for 1t is a well-known
fact that more game is destroyed In that
way than by the people who shoot. The
money so paid out goes into the hands Of
the citizens OF the county, and besides
the protection given to barn-yard fowls
under this law is well worth the expendi-
ture Trapping and netting birds is pro-
hibited. and shooting them in the snow is
forbidden. whether in or out of season.
IAW-MAKING SPORTSMEN.
The present General Assembly can
boast OF having greater number OF
sportsmen in that body than was ever
known before. and for that reason they
are more competent to make laws for
the protection Of game and the govern
ment OF shooting than any other assembly
which has convened since game-laws be-
came a necessity.
The Virginia Field-Sports Association is
composed Of men Of the highest respecta-
bility. and the membership is scattered
through towns and villages Of the State,
while the farming element is largely rep
resented on its roll. They want it dis
tinctly understood that they are the
friends Of the landowner. and desire to
advocate no law which the farmers will
not endorse. At the conclusion of the
clause prescribing penalties for violating
the law with regard to shooting out Of
season. Mr.. Miller added this proviso to
his bill: THAT nothing in this act shall
be construed to apply To the owner of the
land, or TO prevent his shooting on his
own M misses at any time"