The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-15

fish And GAME LAWS
Bills Before the Legislature
Which Greatly Interest
All Sportsmen.
CHANGES PROPOSED IN PRESENT ACTS
Measure to Abolish the Pounds
a Perplexing Question
Wanted by Rod and
Reel Men.
PROPOSED IN PRESENT ACTS
Special to the .ye,scr CITY Ne,rs.

TRENTON, Feb. Is, 1897.-The proposed
sweeping changes in the fish and game
avs Of New Jersey by the present Leg
stature is causing uneasiness among the
sportsmen of New Jersey and this city,
who enjoy the pleasure of a day in the
field with dog and gun, or at the seashore
with rod and reel, says the Philadelphia
Press"
A singular spectacle is presented. The
sportsmen are struggling to prevent the
passage Of the bills that will restrict
pleasure with the gun, while they are do
ing all to abolish pound net fishing from
Long Branch to Cape May.
The bills of interest to fishermen and
sportsmen are known as Nos. IS, 81, IS,
s., go, 81, and g., ia, lis. 11s. III and lis.
They were introduced by A-ssemblyman
Harry S. Scovel, who spends his leisure
time fishing in the waters of South Jer-
sey in the summer time, and following
one Of the finest bred dogs in the fall
months after quail and pheasants, in
Cumberland and Cape May counties. The
most radical of the bills he declines to
stand sponsor for. A day or so ago he
said hat something should be done to
protect the game from slaughter, which
was the case last fall; if not, game would
soon become extinct.
Many Of the bills were prepared by the
State Came and Fish Commission, while
others We're framed by individuals who de-
sired to prevent gunners from having an
opportunity to exercise their dogs, or
from shooting the kind of game which
they choose. Especially is this the case
with bill No. 11S. This provides that it
shall be unlawful for any person to unit
with a gun, or with a dog, or with any
frearm or weapons, or to carry a gun in
the fields or IN the woods, at any time
except only during the month of Novem-
Der, in each and every year, under a
penalty OF $20." This would prevent the
shooting Of reed and rail birds and marsh
mems, the per season for which, in the
past, has been from September / to Sep
TENDER 80. AS these are migratory birds,
they leave before the month of November.
The open season for gray or English
snipe. sometimes called Wilson snipe is
from March l to April 50, and September
l TO September 80. These are also migra-
tory. The open season for grass or up
iand plover and doves is from August /
to September 80. These birds, under this
biil, could not be killed. 1t would also
interfere with woodcoek shooting. The
open season. now is during the month of
July, and from October l to December
10. The new law would cut the months
OF July. October and December. The
months OF October and December would
be cut out of the open season for ruffed
grouse and partridge.
IL would also make a sweeping change
IN the time for shooting all web-footed
fowls. AT present, ducks, geese and brant
can be shot from September 80 to May ].
with a limit that they cannot be killed
later than one hour after sunset or earlier
than one hour before sunrise. AS very
few ducks arrive by November, lovers Of
this sport would lose this pleasure.
Bill No. 81 describes the list of birds
list are clrlew, gulls, loon, tern and
Willet. All of these are sea coast birds.
The curlew and willet are choice game
birds, and afford excellent sport during
The looms, gulls and terms are killed only
to be mounted for and only
remarkably good marksmen are able to
bring them to the ground. Bill No. 116
hound to destroy rabbits out of season.
No. 15 prohibits the use of ferrets in
hunting rabbits. No. ia prohibits the
shooting Of deer until 1900.
Bill No. 81 conflicts with the provisions
OF bill No. lis. No. 81 provides: THAT
it shall be unlawful to capture, kill, in
jure or have in possession any hare (com-
monty called rabbitsl, quail, partridge
Frequently called ruffled grouse or pleas
anti, squirrel, woodcock, European pleas
ant, European grouse, EXCEPT only be-
IN Id IL I'LL
the fifteenth day of December, under a
penalty OF $40"
This bill further fixes the open season
for gray snipe Frequently called Eng
1iSh snipe. or Wilson snipe), during the
months OF March, April and September,
ana the open season Tor Bartramian sand
piper frequently called Upland plover.
grass power or neid piover),, and reed
plro, ran plrd ana doVes during the
hontns OF oepIemper ana Cctoper. Ihls
ace GUS OUT the nonLn OF August, as
pro ovn1 ~ dn ~ loes ne Legds.aiure ap-
Raoseu Fl. ae toSo, anu aouS III piace
'ns Inonna Of Octepea, h,o =
Spoa.snish III aIe laso q 70 the pro
vis,uis pit W. u, ai.npusu tney
wouo = tx Iii snootiis lor
MooucT \. Insy ! q uesilous u nay
lag pnI NY. o. alIienueu. reilioviils the re-
strletlons on looms terms, guns, Wniets
h1d cuTteW. 20 20 90 =,
BllS NOS. oS' o. o. ana ~, reiative 70
catching hsh IN the tributaries OF the
State, and recovering OF penalties for vio-
latlons. Many OF the acts refer TO catch
ing catfish and cells.
The bill which is Of the most interest
is known as No. Sc. This is the outcome
of he combined action of anglers. sum-
proprietors, who are of the opinion that
the pound nets interfere with the snort
Of tbe fishermen in cantnrimg All X hindde Of
fish as thav follow the streams in searoh
IF snawninp ero,1nds
Tpa Iii 6roviSas. .Jf .nv narson ~
- passonia, - 10y ny peroun ~
per ron y : araot NM 90 ~ ! oor
or malntsln, OF shall aia, ASSIST or apet
IN the erecting, setting up, repairing or
maintaining any hshlng dam or pound
or other device whatsoever. except fish