The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-31
TIMELY WARNING
ON GAME LAWS
Department of Agriculture Invites
Attention to Local and Fed
eral Prohibitions.
ARE FREQUENTLY VIOLATED.
Few Persons Realize Rapid In.
crease in Protective Legisla-
tion-Transportaticn Com
panies' Liabilities.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, Aug. 30-With the approach
Of the sportsman's open season. which be
gins Morday, timely warning has BEEN is
sued by the Department of Agriculture in
ordar TO secure 4 more general observance
of the act cf May p. 1899. to prohibit the
transportation by interstate commerce OF
game killed in violation of local laws. The
department invites attention to the provis-
ion OF the Federal ard State laws relating
to shipment of birds and game.
These laws are intended TO preserve for
the common good certain animals and birds
that are valuable as Cocd. sport or as de-
stroyers of pests. They are generally sup
ported by public sentiment. but are fire.
quently violated through ignorance, as
comparatively few persons realize the rapid
increase in protective legislation or the
numerous restrictions which nave been i'm
posed on the trade in game.
SportSmeh' market hunters. game dealers.
commission merchants, railroad and exDrcs;
asGn,s, ahI an persons concerned should,
IL IS said. tam:liarize themselves so far as
possible with the regulations now in force.
~ laws may be had on application to the
department of Agriculture.
Laws to BE Remembered.
me most important provisions Of the
laws may be briefly stated as follows:
Il Is unlawful fer any prSJn to deliver
to any common carrier for TRANSPORTATION
from one State or Territory to another. or
Tor any common carrier to CCnsignee know
lnsly TO receive any wild animals or BIRDS
killed in violation of local laws. This pro-
hibition applies not only to game killed
out of season, but to that captured in an
Illegal manner by traps. netc. etc. or for
Illegal purposes as in some States for sale
or shipment.
Every package containing game or birds
or any parts thereof. when shipped by in
terstate commerce, must bar 4 statement
of tie contents and the shippers name
plainly marked on the outside. inatttentiOn
to these details renders the shipper liable
not only to loss of his game. but also to
heavy penalties for evasion of the law.
Shipping game in trunks. butter boxes or
egg cases. concealinS II among other goods,
marking it butter dressed poultry" or
household goods; addressing It with a
tag made especially TO hide the shippers
name and statement of contents, or resort
ing 10 any other device to conceal thu ma
ture of the shipment. are all evasions OF
the law and subject the shipper to the same
penalties as for its direct violation. False
marking OF packages is treated az a serious
offense under some State laws, and is pun
ishable by special penalties.
Robins. swallows, cedar birds. meadow
larks. fiickers. night hawks, or bull bats and
n few other inseCtivO-CuS species. as well
as such birds as long spears. snow bunt-
!ngs and shore laTks. which are useful IN
destroying seeds OF weeds are occasionally
killed as game. They are. however, Gener-
ally protected and under no circumstances
should they b. sent to market or shlppeu
out Of the State.