The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-16

Governor Hastings has approved the
game bill introduced last March by Rep
resentative Frank q. Harris, of Clearfield
county. Gentlemen we'll versed in all
matters relating To the subject of game
claim tat this is ono of the best meas
ares for the protection of the game in the
United States.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE SEw LAW.
The bill, which has just received the
Governors approval, will DO away with
the nefarious trade of pot-hnnters, snar-
ers, as well as the murderous occupation
of the hat bird hunter, whose business
has been made possible by the vanity of
lovely woman.
Section two deals with the protection
of song and insectiverous birds and pro-
vides that persons who desire TO collect
birds, their nests and eggs for strictly
scientific purposes shall obtain a certifi
cate from the Board of Game CoInmis-
sioneTs, AT cost of five dollars. The
money derived from these permits, here
tofore issued by the prothonOtaries Of tho
different counties, at a cost Of Sl.O0 per
year, will be devoted 10 the use of the
Game Commissioners. From this source
revenue of perhaps 500 or $500 annual
ly will be obtained.
As there has been numerous COM
plants in past years about the great de-
structiom of nests and eggs of game birds
by men who claim to hold permits for
collecting for scientific purposes, the fra
mers of this new bill propose to stop this
and the law has been so framed that the
Game Commission can not. even if they
50 desired, give permit which will en-
able any persons To collect game birds or
their nests and eggs out of season.
While some may be disposed to object
To this clause, il is needless tO say that il
is good one. and science will not suffer
by its rigid enforcement The bill pro-
hibits the sale of game Of all kinds killed
in the State. Likewise the removal Of
game from the State. This feature is in
tended 10 stop class of non-residents
who live in adjoing States and who come
over the Pennsylvania lines and tress-
pass and shoot on the premises of Penn
sylvanians. Transportation companies
are prohibited from carrying game out Of
the State, but they are not interfered
with in carrying game killed in other
States through this State. Game dealers
of Pennsylvania can purchase and sell
all the game they wish to that has been
killed in other States. Heretofore, in
consequence of deficient game laws, so
far as penalty clauses were concerned, it
has been found practically impossible in
many cases to do anything with class Of
game law violators who had no proper
ty and when arrested took advantage of
the insolvent law and would escape, Uy
This means, punishment for their mis-
deeds. This has been corrected by the
new hill and now if men kill game ille-
gally they will be put TO Jail, If their fines
are not paid, a day for every dollar of
fine imposed.
The use of ferrets Is common in good
many localities in Pennsylvania, bat this
practice will have TO be stopped, AS a
man now found with a ferret in his pos
session when hnnting rabbits viii be Ii
able to severe fines.
The trainers of the bill originally tried
10 establish a uniform season for the tax
ing of all game, bat in view of the fact
that there were SO many diverse opinions
among the sportsmen as To the wisdom
IF this feature it was abandoned. Under
this new bill, woodcock can be take in
the month of July and from October 18th
to December 18th, inclusive; deer i'm the
month Of November; rabbits, from No
vember lst 10 December 18th, inclusive
The seasons, 80 far as they relate to wild
ducks, reed birds, snipes, plover, doves
and wild pigeons, are the same a. under
the old laws. Pheasanis, squirrels, quail
aud wild turkeys can he legally taken
from October 18th To December 18th.
Mongolian or English pheasants, which
have been introduced in a few of tho To-
calities with view Of naturalization, can
not be killed for period of five years.
To prevent the profes sionai hunter and
market shooter from slaughtering great
quantities of game in limited time a
Limitation has been placed on the number
of birds, etc, which gunner cIn kill
In day. a follows: WOOlcOck aud
pheasants. 10; quail, -; wild turkeys. :
and no person is allowed to Kill more
fh~' '''-,' A~o- "a suv one season.