Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-03
far-Reaehing Effect of Chief Justice
AlVey's Decision.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE GAME LAWS
The Ducking Season and the Laws
in Maryland Counties.
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS

day, which established the validity of the
game laws governing the District of Co
IL mbia, was hailed with delight by all the
real sportsmen in Washington, because of
its far-reaching effect. The probabilities
are strong that an appeal will be taken to
the United States Supreme Court If such
a procedure is found to be possible by
the representative of the game dealers,
but the best lawyers in Washington agree
that there would be no possibility of the
decision being set aside by the higher trib-
unal The decision means death to pot
hunting out of season, not only in the
District of Columbia. but in nearby Mary
land and Virginia, and if the law is rig
idly enforced henceforth, as the District of
Columbia Fish and Game Protective Asso-
citation and Game Warden Richard Sylves-
ter are determined that it shall be- the
time will not be far distant when quail will
be plentiful as ever in the vicinity of
Washington
Everywhere of Good Effect.
When the closed season begins it will
be Illegal, under Chief Justice Alvey's de-
cision, not only for the market dealers
to have quail in their possession, but for
hotels. restaurants, eating houses. cater
ers and private citizens as well. and it is
the intention of the reputable sportsrnen
of the District to see that all parties OBJ
serve the law to the letter. The decision
will also have the effect of protecting the
birds in territories more remote from the
city There is no city of its size in the
United States which consumes as much
game as the national capital. and hereto
fore the demand has been supplied with
out regard to the law of possession the
claim being made that this clause in the
statutes made it invalid, because it inter-
fered with the interstate commerce law.
Thousands of birds have been brought here
each season after the District, Maryland
and Virginia closed season began, and
while many of them were doubtless
brought from western states, it is q we'll
known fact that very large proportion
of them were killed out of season in Mary
land and Virginia. both at points remote
from nearby Washington.
Land Posted and Birds Scarce.
The announcement of the decision on the
first day of the quail season of 9S was
SO gratifying that it made up in very
large degree for the disappointment which
SO many Washington sportsmen felt at
being unable to get out among the birds
on account of the weathsr. There was
quite an exodus of sportsman with guns
and dogs into Maryland on the afternoon
train Sunday, but the downpour Monday
prevented anything like sport. Messrs. Ar
thur Matting'y, w. s. Mcleod and Cluskey
Cromwell went up in the neighborhood of
Poolesville- and despite the storm spent
a couple of hours in the stubble and thick
v.
They killed few birds, but the elements
were too much for them, and they hunted
shelter. Their case was reproduced many
times over all the way from the District
line 10 Harpers Ferry. The party alluded
to found. upon inquiry, that all the land
in Montgomery above Germantown on both
sides of the Metropolitan branch was post
ed against treSpass. and Ii was very plainly
announced that only persons very wei
known to the owners would be allowed to
shoot on the latter's farm Birds which
had been reported plentiful are decidedly
scarce now, and the rigorous methods in
cheated have been taken to preserve the
present feathered population for breeding
purposes.
Ducks Read Their Death Warrants.
The duck season of 1s97-9S is now prop
erly open, as il is popularity regarded as
coming in when the guns begin to pop on
the Susquehanna at Havre de Grace De-
spite the heavy rain a number of sports
men were out, and the high boat as
reported at Havre de Grace last night
was the Blooming Lily, Captain George
w Barnes, iii charter to F. w
Roebling of Trenton. n. ]. This boat
baggsd 10 ducks. Black heads and
red heads Were numerous and n fey
canvas backs Were killed, one hunter re-
PORTING three in bag of sixty-one birds.
Ihere nave been quite a number of ducks
On tne fotomac below Washington. but it
VIII take much colder weather before the
sHootlng begins in earnest. Ii is virtually
Cseless for man to go duck shooting this
sue OF Glymont, however because the
runners who peep from steam launches
Keep the n0eks pretty well frightened off
that part OF the stream Several engage
hehts by Weli-known sportsmen have been
made with Waller at Whitewater for the
use of his blinds when the season cetc
older
Laws in Maryland Counties.
IL Is probable that DR.. George W. Massa-
more, the deputy game warden of Mary
land. will get the state authorities to send
one of the Maryland police boats around
iEto the Potomac to see that the duckfne
laws are enforced properly. Persons an
ueira;ing visits into Maryland for the pur-
pose Of shooting water fowl would do well
10 peruse the regulations and laws govern
ing the counties where most ducks are
usually shct-
In Anne Arundel county water fowl can
only be shot on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays OF each week, and only on Tues
days and Fridays on the Mago;hy river.
no person can use a sink box without n
license. under per atty of from $50 to $780,
In Cecil county it is unlawful to shoot
any wild water fowl from a sink boat
sreak boat or other boat in Elk or Bohemia
rivers The penalty is So 10 $50. Licenses
are necessary for sink boxes owned by
bona-hie residents
Charles cCCEty has rigorous water fowl
laws Persons not residing owning land
II the county are forbidden to shoot wild
~ Under penalty of SD for eacn ofrense
In dorchester it is unlawful for any 9th
er than bo.G-fide residents of Parsons
creek church creek and neck districts TO
Shoot any Wild fowl from sink boats sneak
boats. boats carrying light, or from blinds
or otherwise in the Little Choptank river.
The penalty is so.
Water fowl shooting in Hartford county
and The waters of Chesapeake bay contip,i-
Gus thereto IS permitted on Monsiays. Wed
neslays AMI Fridays before January L and
on those days and Saturdays from January
TO the close of the season, from an hour
before sunrise to half an hour after sunset
Night shooting is penalized by a fine of
from SEQ to 500. Licenses must be OBJ
tainej 10 use sink boxes or sneak boats
Guns over eiSht-bore and swivel guns are
prohibited
In Prince Georges county only residents
of that county and Anne Arundel county
are permitted TO shoot any geese, ducks or
other wild fowl on marshes. except by per-
mission of the majority of the owners of
the property adjacent thereto, and only
licensed boats may be used The penalty is
80 to $50 for the first, and SIS to 500 for
every subsequent ofense.
In St Marys county only residents Of st.