The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-14
REVISION OF GAME LAWS.

AS a general thing the workings OF any
sound individual human mind can be
traced or followed step by step, but when
a number of these minds are gathered to-
gether into one body called Legislature
their starting points and their con-
illusions are frequently things of mystery
behond human ken. And it is only upon
this basis that we can understand or ex-
plain our present English snipe law,
which allows them to be shot during the
months of March and April and also dur
ing the month of September. We could
readily understand that spring shooting
should be forbidden because the birds
are then on their northern migration
to their breeding grounds and every
bird killed means the loss of just
so many young birds. But that
shooting should he allowed in Sep
TENDER when the number of snipe in this
state is infinitesimally small in ordi-
nary years and prohibited in October
when the great flight comes on is beyond
our comprehension. The only logical
explanation that we have ever heard is
that it was an error of the engrossing
clerk, that September 30 should have
read November 80. This section of the
game bill might better have been entitled
ssAnact for the determination of breeding
snipe and young birds, and their protec-
ton when full grown" tits one of those
illogical, densely ignorant, stupid acts
for which there is no apology or explana-
ton possible. So let the blame rest on
the engrossing clerks shoulders, and we
have no doubt that his ample salary will
make the burden rest lightly.
To our minds, snipe shooting should
be allowed during March and April and
during September. October and Novem-
Der, They are merely here IN transitu
and the relatively few that are killed in
this state will make but little difference
in the total number. And furthermore,
the shooting of snipe over dogs is the
greatest fascination for many men; it
is the finest test there is of dogs nose,
staunchness and general good sense, and
1t is worth a trip of good many miles
to go on any of our meadows and see the
Judgment and skill which an old we'll
trained snipe dog who knows his business
displays in handling these birds. And
from the days of Scott Rodman's old
"Dash" down to the present time Morris
County has been famous for its snipe
dogs like old ''Dash, Hopping's "Tray"
and '.Spot," Leonard's "Ben," and
Foote's "Ben," retired, but still in the
land of the living.
We see no reason why the old law re-
lating to ducks was modified. Shooting
on the inland waters of the State should
begin earlier than October 1, say Sep
TENDER 1; while shooting with decoys in
tidal waters should not, to our minds,
begin before October Is. This was
virtually the old law and it ought to
have remained unchanged.
And now, in conclusion of this series
of articles, let us state that we have
at all times spoken our minds freely
without fear or hesitation. and, as in
every discussion of the game laws, we
have aroused latent animosities. But
we have accomplished what we started
out to do. We have aroused in the press
of the state a more or less general dis
cussion, and the members of the Legisla-
ture now meeting at Trenton know, if
they read their county papers, just what
the section of the State which they repre-
sent wants and desires in this line. And
we now foresee and predict that there
will be series of compromises which
will result in new game law in all
probability beyond the comprehension of
man.