Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-08-02
A TIMELY WARNING.
Partridge Shooting In August VIII
Prove Expensive Sport.

Prove Expensive Sport.
John c. Higgins, of Bath secretary and
treasurer, and Everett B. Norton, of
Pennington, members of a committee
from the Maine game and protective as
sociation, were in Ellsworth this week.
These gentlemen are members of COM
mittee appointed to investigate the result
of the associations work in liberating
grouse in different parts of the State.
They have just visited Mt. Desert
island, and while there obtained evidence
Of fragrant violations of the game laws
that sent them to Ellsworth They
learned that hotel and restaurant men at
Bar Harbor had sent postal cards to men
in Ellsworth and other parts of the State
asking for shipments of partridges in
August. They learned further that one
man in Ellsworth, whose name they
know, last year sent over 200 pair of
cartridges to Bar Harbor in close season.
They also have evidence against others.
The association will make every effort
to stop the violations of the law without
force, by warning the hotel keepers and
thus stopping the demand If the viola
tions continue, however, then the ma
chinery of the law will he put in opera
ton, and cartridges will prove expensive
game for someone.
The extent of the injury done to the
game interests by this unlawful shooting
is not fully known and appreciated even
by the sportsmen themselves. The men
who shoot out of season are not sports
men.
In August the young broods of par
tridges have obtained the size OF robins,
but have not yet left the old bird.
\ bevy of these young birds, with
the hen being started in August, the
old bird seeks the low branches of a
tree or shrub, where she hides and calls
the young ones to her. They fly to the
bush in open sight, and will sit there I'M
til shot one by one, and finally the old
bird, by the unprineipled pot hunters.
Thus whole broods are wiped out. By
the first Of aept~nbe s when the open
season commences, this would be impos-
siblc. for ~ ,nd stals the young birds
+ have learned to shift for themselves, and
1 '
The Maine game and protective asso-
ciat ion, young organization, has already
accomplished much good work. Since
last spring, 5000 worth of game birds
] have been liberated in various parts
of the State. The varieties so lib
Grated are the sharp-tailed grouse, of
/ North Dakota, and the pinnated grouse
-, ,bi Dl- of 1ol ntp
The Maine climate and woodland seem
perfectly adapted for the propagation of
these birds The black variety, from
Sweden, will also be introduced.
Messrs Higgins and Norton visited
Mount Desert island to inspect and in
vestigate into the condition of the sharp
tailed grouse liberated at Bar Harbor by
the associate ion Their report is highly
gratifying. Six pair of birds were
] liberated there last Mry. As far as can
be ascertained, all lived and thrived and
are scattering over the island as II was
hoped and believed that they would do
Two brooks of young were found on the
island.
The association will ask the State leg
islature to make close time of three
years for these birds to allow them to OBJ
tain a foothold. The Legislature will un-
doubtedly assist the association as far a
possible.
The associati ions progating grounds at
the State fish hatchery grounds, East Au-
burn, are eXcellently adapted for the
purpose.