Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-31
PROPOSED CHANGE IN GAME LAW.

Mr. ~ os 1oole, proslGebs 1dMe
Protective Associations Wilmington,
Del My Dear Sir: ! have been talk.
ing with about all Of the sportsmen OF
this vicinity, and they are, II seems,
In favor OF Representative Pretty mans
bill to change the time Of shooting
birds and rabbits from November 10th
to January LIST; to December LIST to
January 3lst, giving two p1onths for |
shooting instead of six weeks. They |
claim that there would not be as many |
birds killed 10 the time given az there
is now. They give as their reason:
When our season opens on the 10th OF
November, a great majority OF the
birds are too small to shoot and the
weather too warm for one to have any
pleasure 10 cunning, then again, we
have grnners 10 the early season who
get 10 coveys of young birds that are
not able to take care of themselves
| tfof they often light along fences and
hedges) and kill them all, aud after
| they get them they are unit for any
thing. All they care fol is to make
big bag but later in the season, when
tho birds are strong and foil grown,
these same fellows can't kill one in
five. So they think later in the season,
when the birds are full grown and able
to take care of themselves, would BIO
the hest protection We could give them.
Then again, they would like to have
every one interested in the protection
of our game, TO see that there is none
shipped out of the State for sale, which
is going on all the time. Then again,
we have people who shoot in and out
of season, Just as they please. II We
could only get the people interested and
| hau arraufo1 md malta IN
cost them a good round sum few
times, it world put stop to this kind
OF work; but they are let go and do
Just as they please and Just SO long ms
they are let alone, they will continue
to do it. say arrest every one caught
: shooting before and after the season
closes, and put stop to it at once.
/ wish. one could Put stop to the
sale of gnme for few years altogether,
and then our game would not be
slaughtered as IL is now. And then it
would have a chance to increase. II
something is not done, we will never
2 enjoy good shooting in Delaware again.
was down in Sussex county on a
cunning trip for few days this last
Z fall, and was told by parties there that
= they had men In their neighborhood
8 who commenced to shoot birds and
Q rabbits sometime before the season
{ opened and continued just as long az
0 they pleased, regardless of the law.
I, Also, / went down in Prime Hook Neck
q not far from Milford, the first day O
Q the open season, and saw birds hanging
8 in porohes at nearly every farmhouse
J. went to. Those birds were killed-som'
q Of them-several days before the seaaoI
q opened and kept for sale, every one 0
:. them. So you can readily see sucl
|, sportsmen as these gun not for the low,
l. of the sport, but for what they get on
II of it. We need men to look after on
game and see that it is protected; VIII
10 would arrest a brother il oaugh
VI violating the law. For what is the us
g of laws If they are not respected? AM
% il these violators Of the law will no
p respect 1T, there ought to be some wa
TO make them do it, | think every law
N abiding sportsman ought to look afte
70 these violators and have them punishe
q il caught.
I'd Now, think IL the law is change
IN for the time of shooting game, it ough
st to apply to all kinds Of game, and hay
m the open season for all at the sam
re time. Hoping this will meet you
At approval, am yours, very truly,
7: Henry Davis of George.
Id Milford, Del, Jan 2Sth, 1901.