The morning call., 1895-02-24
THE GUN.
Wind-Up of the Season for the Killing of Game
Birds.

Wlnd-Up OF the Season Tor the Killing of Game
Birds.
This will be the last Sunday of the season
open TO sportsmen who have been putting off
their final shoot on duck or quail. The ground
is now in excellent condition for the latter
and as the birds are strong of wing the oppor.
tunity for a farewell visit to the game resorts
should not be lost sight of.
No sportsman will regret the departure OF
the season so far as duck-shooting is con-
cerned. The birds have been scarce ever since
the day OF the opening, and when little good
shooting was almost assured down came the
rain in torrents, scattering the fowl in all di-
Fecuons and creating no end OF disgust among
lovers of the sport
Messrs. Golcher and Vernon returned from
Point Reyes last Sunday with some nice strings
of quail. They report having found the birds
on good open ground where shooting was q
pleasure over thoroughly broken dogs.
The sportsmen who had convened in this city
last year purpoSely to amend the game laws
made one great mistake in suggesting that
snipe must not be protected at any season.
The so-called English snipe is unqueStionably
one of the gamiest birds that sportsman ever
shot, and why they should be discarded from
the list is problem that remains unsolved
The snipe which visits this section OF the
country in winter returns to the big meadows
OF Plumas and Sierra counties on the advent OF
the summer season, where they propagate
their species. Eggs have been frequently found
in birds that were shot in the months Of March
and April, which proves beyond argument
that if hunters are not res trcted in their shoot
ing the slaughter OF a grand bird may be
expected.
Campers who remain for weeks at time in
the big meadows will not respect the ethics OF
sportsmanshtp, and II the opportunity permits
OF Strengthening birds While nesting or when
guarding their young the camper viii assuredly
go in for murder. The failure of the conven.
ton to suggest in its bill some months of the
year during which time English snipe will be
protected cannot fail to bring unfavorable
comments from all lovers of true sport.
The suggestion of the Fish and Game Com
mittee of the Legislature to throw all marsh
lands open to sportsmen has been very favor
ably commented upon by the masses. True,
there are few wealthy clubs who have leased
lands upon which clubhouses have been con-
struoted that will oppose this measure on gen.
eral principles. 1t has passed the Assembly
with favorable comment, and there can be no
doubt that the Senate will approve of a meas
ure that will afford amusement to all classes of
sportsmen irrespective of wealth or station.
The only member of the Assembly who voted
against the measure giving all sportsmen right
and title TO shoot over marsh lands was Assem-
blyman Powers of this city. Assemblyman
Bassford of Solano County is making a strong
and vigorous fight in favor of throwing open
all overflow marsh lands to lovers OF the chase.
A. s. Trude, who is an enthusiast in protect
Ing hSh and game, returned to Chicago from
washington few days ago, writes a CORE
spondent. Mr.. Trude's visit to washington
was in the interest of game protection, and
while conversing on the matter he said ''The
game is going fast There are Englishmen
who, when at home, will fine man three
times for killing rabbit on their estates, but
who will go to the Northwest of the United
States and kill our magnificent elk just for the
fun OF seeing them fall. They don't touch car
casS or horn; just shoot the animal and let it
rot where it falls. These men are men who,
when at home get after man who kills a rab-
BIT first Tor killing the creature then for tres
pass, and then for carrying a gun without a
license. These men will send their dogs into
Yellowstone Park to drive the animals out
where they can be, shot without ssubiecting
their owners to the danger of arrest"