The record-union., 1899-01-16
MORE GAME LAW TINkERlAG.
PROPOSED CHANGES THAT ARE
UNNECESSARY.
The Northern California Quail
Crop of 1898 Was UP to the
Average.

which the Legislature VIII NC SnSo
to make in the game law IS one TO
limit the open season for quail to one
month December) for the next TWO
years.
The reason given for this is that last
wear the quail did not breed in some
parts of the State on account OF the
drouth
This may apply to some localities in
the San Joaquin Valley and the Coast
Range district south of Monterey, but
it does not apply to any portion OF the
State north of San Francisco Bay In
this end of the State quail are just as
plentiful as for many years past. There
was no such extreme drouth as TO IN
terfere in the slightest degree with
their breeding. On the contrary. the
season of 1898 was just what suited the
quail, and the crop was better than if
there had been heavy rains late in the
spring.
Men whose observations are restrict
ed to the country south of Stockton
and the bay of San Francisco are not
competent to suggest changes in the
gsme laws for the upper counties. 1t
is enough to say that there is no short
age Ill the Qudll crop VI tHlS part VI tic
State and north of. here, from the ST.
ezra TO the sea, and there is no. neces-
sity for any such abridgement of the
privileges of people who like to hunt
quail as has been proposed.
If something of the kind is required
in the southern counties it can be ac-
complished under the provisions of the
County Government Act which gives
boards of Supervisors the power to
limit the open season for any kind Of
game within their respective counties.
If one county has plenty of quail, let
the general law alone in that county.
If in another the supply is short, let
the Supervisors restrict the shooting
season there There is altogether too
much tlnixering with the game laws.
Another proposition is to limit snipe
shooting from October 10Th to March
lst This proposition comes from men
who do their snipe shooting on the
mar shes about San Francisco Bay
where the season runs from October to
March. These men seem to have no
thought of the rights of interior sports
rIen
Take Sacramento as an example
There is never any ground hereabouts
suitable for snipe until January. and
usually not until February and March,
when the birds begin to leave the bay
marshes and work their way north
ward. To cut off the snipe shooting
IN the interior on the 1st of March
means practically to allow no snipe
shooting anywhere away from the
marshes that line the shores of the bay
= 4
gone. They do not-like quail, mallard
and teal-breed in this part of the
State, hence they need no protection
from the moment they leave here to
go to their breeding grounds in the lar
north
The Record Union" has for years
made this fight on behalf of the inter-
ior sportsmen and has succeeded in
Protecting them If the facts are prop
eriy laid before the members of the
Legislature the probability is that no
such innovation as that proposed will
he successful
There will be a meeting of Sacra-
mento sportsmen in few days to form
game protective association, and when
the call is issued it is hoped all who
have the interests of game protection
at heart will respond. At this meet
ing committee should be appointed
to appear before the legislative COM
mfttees when the proposed new game
laws are considered and insist on pro-
lection for interior sportsmen as well
as for the game.
This one fact should be borne in mind
that in localities where short seasons
are deemed advisable they can be had
by action of the Supervisors Under
the present Constitution the Legisla-
ture cannot discriminate. it is true, but
1t allows such latitude to Boards of Su-
pervisors in local matters that the
shooting season can be made as short
as desired.
What is needed most is vigorous
upEolding of the laws we have by the
punishment of those who violate them
The real trouble is that the game laws
are not upheld by those whose lawful
duty is to prosecute offenders.