The Portland daily press., 1900-07-11
A Plea for Protection
of Game Birds.
The KineO Excursion a Great
Success.

persons were 0Ap6GU6Q 10 COID5s UuO 6pOuo
400 are here. Today has been devoted to
sight seeing.
This evening reception was rendered
to Governor and Mrs. Powers, who are
guests of the association. Among those
who assisted in receiving were Adjutant
General J. Il. Richards, Hon. and Mrs.
P. O.. Vickery, Judge and Mrs. William
P. Whitehouse, General Selden Conner,
Miss Conner, Col. and Mrs. V. M. Nc
Farlaine, Secretary OF State and Mrs.
Bryon Boyd and Hon. and Mrs. William
Engel. After the reception there was an
address of welcome by the governor and
G. o. Shields, editor of Recreation
spoke on Union of Effort for the protec-
ton and preservation of birds, fish and
game"
ADDRESS OF MR.. SHIELDS.
Mr.. G. o. Shields of New York, gave
very interesting address, representing
the League of American Sportsmen. He
said:
''IO be invited here to talk to spOrtsnen
of the great State of Maine on the sub
| ject of game and fish protection 10 an
honor which any man might thoroughly
appreciate Maine is one of TIE few
states in the union whose lawmakers
have realized that game and game fishes
may be made an important source of
revenue in the state, and at the same
time be increased in numbers each year.
This stat9 has, all things considered, the
best system OF game and fish laws of any
state in the union, and has made the best
provisions for enforcing them. / say this
without the least intention to flatter any
one l repeat, therefore, that feel, deep
ly, the compliment you have paid me IN
| inviting me here to talk to you and with
you on this Important subject. /, how
ever, represent a broader field than is
covered by your great Stat9. l speak
and act for the spOrtsmen OF all the states
IN the union East, West, North and
South, and for all the provinces of
Canada. speak for the League of
| American SpOFtsmen."
Mr.. Shields then described the organ
ization and objects of the league, and re-
| lated its achievements. The browning
achievement was the passage of the Lacey
game bill by the last Congress. This
measure was described in full by the
PRESS at the time Of its passage. Mr..
Shields said OF this bill:
IF the League of American SpOrtsmen
| had not accomplished anything previous
/ to the time of going to Washington to
work for this bill, it would now be entit-
| led to the cooperation and reSDact of
every lover Of the birds and thu wild ami
mails. If it should never accomplish an
other piece of important work in the
future it would still merit the active sup
| port OF every true sportsman and nature
| lover. But its usefulness has only Just
| begun. We now have authority to act
everywhere. Nearly all the states have
good game and fish laws and good
/ laws for the protection OF song and in
sectivOrOus birds. But the trouble has
been to enforce these laws Uncle Sam
now comes forward and says he viii aid
| the states IN enforcing their laws -Wher-
ever needed or asked The League OF
American SpOrtsmen Will act as a great
! corps Of detectives and game and fish
Wardens, everywhere. It already has
working divisions in % states and i In one
| Canadian prOvince-that of Ontario
| Within another year it will have such
divisions in all the states and in all the
| provinces. 1t viii have strong forces of
| detectives In the great game markets such
as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and
Chicago, to inspect all shipments of game
received there; to learn where they came
from and to learn if possible, whether
they were killed in close season, OF
whether they were shipped out of the
states from whence they came in VIOLA
t1on of non-exDOrt laws, If we lind that
III such killing or shipping a state game
or fish law has been violated, we can seizs
and contiscate the game and the cOnsignee
knowingly receiving such game or fish,
SO Killed or shipped in kviOlation of law
Is subject to penalty of $500 for each
offence
So gentlemen, you see we now have
the law breakers at our mercy. All we
need now is that all sportsmen every
where shall join us and cooperate will
us,
But, | have been asked, what have We
here IN Maine to do with the shipment
OF game from the West to the Eastern
oaf1 w ~ror- IA
ing to do with this question. But sports
men should be brOad-miDded men. The,
| should look beyond their own persona
interests. They should wish to cooper.
ate With one another, even If their homes
be divide by the width or the length O
the continent. Men often say to me, we
have no interest in the protection o.
game IN other states than our own, anc
we teel that what money we can snare fo
that purpose should be devoted to the pro
6ectlon OF our own game
Canuldly, feel sorry Tor such men
1I SHOWS they have never travelled. thai
Uhey have never even read much of th
wants or the resources of other portion
of the country.
How are you here in Maine Interested
N Jhe protection OF game in Canada
Massacnusetts, or Florida? Let us see
Maine is not famous as
DUCK SHOOTING
or duck breeding ground but it is tru
that ducks and geese do nest within you
confines, to some extent. In portions O
your State you have good wild fow
shooting in the fall. Yes, and in tn
spring, some one says. Well, I hope not
l TRUST your legislature may pass a lax
at It's next session prohibiting sprin
shooting on all kinds OF birds, for al
But some Of the wild fowl nest il