The evening times., 1898-12-09
Major Sylvester at Work on
the Draft of a Bill.
PROTECTION FOR BIRDS
RavageS of Poi Hunters Extermi-
mating Some Species.
A Conflict of Laws-Passing of the
Canvas Hack Duck - Some
Hardships.

The game birds in the District OF CO.
lumbia are going to have ample protec-
ton from the ravages of the pot hunter.
At the same time the birds which aye
pests are not to be given chance to
make things uncomfortable for the small
fruit farmer and the man who raises gar
den truck
Major Sylvester, chief of police of the
District of Columbia, who is also the
game warden. is at work on the draft of
a new bill which will be introduced in
Congress shortly.
Heretofore ii has been the custom to al
low the English sparrow To go peacefully
about its work of destroying trees, insects
and the like but under the new law the
killing of these little pests Will be allowed
and the garden truckers viii he happy in
consequence. Another bird that will be
removed from the pale Of the law by the
proposed ordinance is the marsh bldckbiId
This species Of bird has grown very nu-
merOus under the present resu atoms, and
has driven "A number of the reed birds
which inhabited the marshes from the
waters of the Potomac in the immediate
vicinity OF Washington, and the sports
men who made practice of hunting Tor
these small delicacies every fal nave been
compelled to- go some distance from the
District of Columbia.
Then there are some things which have
escaped the protection of law to become
the prey of the hunter. The rabbit, for
instance, which has always been Il tar
get for every ones gun, is placed out of
reach of the hunter for Il season, at
least. and this species OF game Will be
allowed to breed until il becomes more
numerous.
The warrcns which in the past have
contained hundreds of rabbits are now
deserted, and a hunter who is very fond
Of the little animal said one day last
week that he had hunted all day with
out seeing a single rabbit
The closing 0f the game season will be
Il great hardship to the epicures who de-
pend on the pot hunter to furnish them
with game and delicious canvas back.
This latter species is becoming more
scarce every year and If the present eX-
terminating methods continue they VIII
become entirely extinct and the man of
today who has been accustomed 10 their
luscious presence on his dinner table will
leave only fond memory 10 posterity.
| There is not canvas back 10 be shot
in the Potomac River this year ana few
OF lntfl are lp bt lbHlin even III tiltlI O4'l
stamping grounds in the Chesape ke Bay.
Ma ior Sylvester asCribes this condition
OF affairs To the methods Of the men VINO
go out at night with n swivel gun loaded
! with buckshot. mounted in the bow of a
| boat When these worthless sight 2 flock
! of ducks they steal silently up and with
| their cannon Kill from three 10 five hun
| dred Of the birds at one shot.
| The game laws are only locally enforced
! and consequently are great hardship 10
| a number of people. The men who are
! engaged III the business OF supplying the
| hotels and clubs with these fowl are driv-
I en- to desperate straits to obtain game for
/ their customers, II is a perfectly legiti-
! mate business and some Of the most re-
| putable citizens in the city are engaged
/ in that business
! The hardship is the effect Of the eX-
| tremely local character Of the laws. II
! the District il is unlawful to have foI
sale or even have in your possession Z
| fowl or fish or animal which is protected
by the game ordinance.
\ man by going 4 few miles can in
dulge his propensity for hunting in
( perfectly lawful manner and yet shOuIt
he attempt to furnish his family in thi:
( city with the result OF his DAYS sport h,
would be arrested and fined - apiece fol
every bird found in his possession
II is said, however, that the laws "a
! 4 national character are in process .
I preparation and in a short time the rcgu
| latiUnS Will be universal.