Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-19
ILLEGAL DUCK HUNTING
Laws Of Maryland and Virginia on the Sub
ject Stated.
Three Dig Guns on the Potomac
Damage by Shooting From
Boats and Launches.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

tiers In regard to shooting ducks with big
guns, Of it's destructiveness and its lille
gality. In none of the letters have I seen
| the law quoted or the mention Of other IL
legal ducking, from sail boat, steam and
naphtha launches. which are doing more
to drive the ducks OF the Potomac than
the big gunners. In the first place, of late
years ducks have become so scarce shoot
ing from big guns has not been renumera-
| tive and today I know of but three big
guns in use on the Potomac-one of which
is used quite frequently from a sloop, and
the other two very seldom.
For many years, in fact from 1885. the
date of the compact between Maryland and
| Virginia in regard to the Jurisdiction of the
| Potomac. to March 3, 1879, when Congress
| by Its official action defined the jurisdic-
| ton, there were constant disputes between
| the two states. and hence all illegal shoot
ing on the Potomac was not enforced. BY
| the third section of the above act, ap-
| proved March 3, 1879, Revised Statutes,
volume 20, page 4S1, it was enacted that
Maryland had exclusive and complete con-
| troll OF the Potomac to the low water
| marx on the Virginia Shore but that Vir-
ginia was to have exclusive control of all
| that part of the river embraced within a
| lire drawn from one headland to another
headland on the Virginia side without fol-
| lowing indentures, bays, creeks, inlets or
| afhuent rivers Since this act was enacted
there has been no dispute in regard to the
| Jurisdiction, and it was this act that caused
all Zig gunners to stop their illegal shoot
| ing. except those three who are now more
| imam careful on account of the severe pen
| alties. But since big gun shooting has as
| may say, almost ceased there has be-
| come another Illegal hunting of ducks,
which, If continued. will drive all the
DUCKS from the Potomac. I refer to sail
| ing on them with boats, also shooting them
| from steam and naphtha launches.
| 1here are good many launches owned
mere now and some in Alexandra, and Their
Il C for ha Io-t g.,
come duckers. as this seems now to be
| fad At first they only went a few miles
| down the river, but since ducks have be-
come SO scarce they now extend their trips
| 10 sixty miles or more. Their mode of
| hunting Is as follows: AS soon as a launch
| sees mock OF ducks they put on all steam
ana go Tor them, and the shooters who are
| stationed In the bow of the boat as soon
as they get within shooting distance
shoot. The ducks then fly and NAV not
a align again until they fly one or two
where they alght and go after them
| egaih-they may get a second shot but
! after this the ducks become so wild ana
oeIore the boat gets within gunshot. will
| tahe anc tner Hight and will not alight I'M
| III they have gone five or ten mileseand If
inc poating Is continued they take fight to
| other streams. ~
| The law of Maryland in reference IN
| shooting from boats Is as follows. No nor
son shall at any time in or over the waters
OF the state of Maryland shoot at or shoot
any wafer FOWL from any vessel,
| boat, float, canoe or any craft of anv kind
| Whatever claw 1885, art. 90, sec. u. If anv
| one shall violate any of these sections he
| snail be guilty of mfsdemeanor, and shall
pay d me OF not less than ten or more than
| one hundred dollars (sec ~. ANY officer of
| the state fishing force, sheriff. constable
| or commissioned militia officer of the conn
shall be satisfied either upon
| any other person, whether on oath or
| not, that any one has violated the said
| provisions shall be, and is hereby author-
lzea ana empowered to arrest and take into
| CUSTODY such person so offending and the
| boatmen or other persons found on board
| OF the vessel, boat, float, canoe or craft
| employed to convey such offender for the
| purpose of shooting at or killing wild ducks
| or wild fowl of any description and
| he shall seize and take into his possession
| the said vessel. boat. float canoe or craft
ana the gun or guns. ammunition. decoy
| ducks in the same or in the use of or pos
| session of the offender or offenders (sec
| %. The said officers shall carry the person
or persons SO arrested before justice of
| the peace. the justice shall inquire
| fully into the alleged offense (sec 81 II
| the justice shall be of the opinion that
| any wild ducks or other water fowl have
been shot or killed contrary to sections 1,
| = or ! of this article he shall enter a judg-
| ment of ten to one hundred dollars against
| each person engaged directly or Indirectly
| therein for each offense, and If the offender
l does not pay the fine, may commit him
| to the county Jail (sec. %. The Justice shall
| also adjudge and condemn as forfeited to
| said officer and for the person or persons
who may have aided him in making the
| arrest and seizure, shall sell the same to
| the highest bidder for cash after ten DAYS
notice (sec. 100. One-half of fine and pro-
| ceeds of sale Of confscated property shall
| go to those making the arrest. The laws in
| reference to non-residents are our county
| laws.
| The laws of Virginia are equally severe,
| especially shooting at night and with big
10 hfCh "a
| raised and fired at arms length from the
| shoulder without resO (sec 2O79, laws 1870.
| Non-resident-1f any person who is not an
| actual resident of the state shoot at catch
| or kill any wild fowl in any waters or on
| any marshes, island or beaches within the
| state he should be fined one hum
| dred dollars, one-half of which shall be to
| the informer (sec. 2075). Non-residents
| shooting from skiff. float sink box in
Fairfax, Prince William Stafford, King
| George or Henrico counties. either in day
or night, shall be fined one hundred dollars
| for each offense; one-half shall go to in
| former; all guns, skiffs. boats or sink boxes
| used shall be forfeited to the common
wealth.
| We thus see the laws are very severe in
| both states. A few years ago an owner
\ of steam launch below Alexandria, was
4 constantly shooting ducks from his launch
This made the ducks very scarce for miles,
| Some wrote to the governor of Mary
| land, who sent police boat to arrest them
| in the act The owner of the launch, how
ever, received notice OF the coming OF the
police boat and has never used his boat
4 since for the purpose of shooting ducks.
| Some of the launches now hunting ducks
| are very costly. If some one in the want
| of funds badly should be on the lookout
/ and catch them in the act they would make
a good sum of money by causing their
| arrest.
| There are several ducking clubs on the
| river and they have been to a great deal
| of expense for rent, boats, decoys. bait and
] other necessities. On account Of the shoot
| ing from launches their sport was very
| poor last season, and from the numerous
| steam launches now hunting their pros
| poets are not any brighter for the coming
| season. 1 have heard several members
| say If this illegal shooting is not stopped
| at once they will appeal to the governors
| of Maryland and Virginia to enforce the
! law to the full penalty. 1 know that some
| Of the members of these clubs WELD SO
| much influence that their request would
| be granted at once and all the powers of
| both states brought to enforce the law.
| would. therefore. advise the owners of
| all launches and other illegal shooting to
| stop at once. as there Is no knowing when
| this appeal to the governors may not be
| made, If not made already. and If you are
caught you will not only be heavily fined,
| but your boat, guns. ETC., confiscated and
sold. The jurisdiction Of Virginia COM
| mencing at Aqua creek embraces all the
| u,tfbin limo from Rrenf'c Point RI