The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-16
SOUTH CAROLINA GAME BIRDS.
Efforts to Prevent the determination
Of QuaiIs and Partridges.

of Q0aiIs ana Partr1dRes.
In order, says Charleston dispatch,
to protect game birds, which were
threatened with determination in
this state, the legislature of South Car.
olina at its last session passed law
prohibiting dealers from selling or Of
ering for sale, partridges or quails
killed within the state for period OF
five years. The law does not attempt to
stop the sale of birds brought in from
other states, and the act has just gone
into effect. 49,.
1t has caused many complications,
and among other things has opened
blind tiger market for birds, which
in a measure will equal the blind IT,
gers where liquor is sold. The hunt
ing associations and game preserve
clubs recently organized, have under
taken to see that the law is enforced.
The dealers in Charleston and the
managers of restaurants will be watch
ed, but partridges are still being serv.
ed and sold. Dealers who are asked
about the working of the law say 1t
does not interfere with their business,
as the birds are in constant demand
and for that reason they have to keep
on hand large supplies, which are or.
dered from Georgia. 1t is evident
that the law is not giving the greatest
protection to the birds, but that they
are being killed as usual, and the
blind tiger market is thriving.
In recent years the frequent storms
along the coast have thinned out the
partrtriges. to remarkable extent.
Floods caught the young birds and de-
stroyed them, and instances are known
where two broods in one season have
been entirely destroyed. Higher up
in the state the same caufe Of destruc-
ton did not operate, altho Ugh from one
reason or another the birds were being
killed off.
The greatest enemy to game birds In
this state, is the man with the trap.
Negroes in the coast country who
knew that good prices we're paid for
birds. found 1t rather poor plan to go
out and shoot them, so they revived
the old plan of trapping. For q long
distance leading to the trap a line OF
corn would be carefully put down, and
this would run right up under the
cage. The birds would go under the
cage without hesitation, eat the corn
and then find that they could not es-
cape because they never tried to sneak
under the edges of the trap, trying in
stead to climb or fly out. Another
form of trap would spring and fall
when the covey was under. With lit,
tie or no trouble the Negroes could
catch an entire covey and the profits
were large.
Hunters who find traps demolish
them with the greatest satisfaction.
Not long ago a Charleston hunter
while out one day followed his dog
when the latter had pointed. Going
up cautiously he saw the cage. He
kicked over the trap and allowed the
birds to fly for their lives. With the
two barrels he caught four birds,
which was good record consideringt the
fact that the covey scattered in dozen
directions. The same hunter, while
out on a three days hunt, smashed IA
traps in very small territory.
There is another class of hunters
who try to find covey huddled up in
heap. Frequently the birds run to-
gether before being flushed, and man
with a good eye can find the covey and
kill almost every bird in it with a sim
gle barrel. This unsportsmanllke busi-
ness has helped to decrease the stock.
This season the hunters say there is a
good stock of birds, notwithstanding
the onslaught made on them in the
past. There was dry weather during
the Matching season, which was propi-
tous, and the young ones were not
drowne this year. With proper pro-
lection for five years the stock can be
put back to its former fine condition.