Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-18
Provisions. Relating to Sea-
sons, Sale and License.
TATE LEGISLATION
SPORTSMEN WILL FIND MUCH
HERE OF INTEREST.
Expiration of Laws, Restriction of
Shipments and Sale of Game
Are Considered.


provisions relating to seasons. shipments,
sale and licenses of the game laws of the
different states and territories of the United
States for 1902. Numerous changes have
been made in laws since the last bulletin
was issued, and these are contained in the
latest publication, which is of more than
ordinary interest to all true sportsmen.
According to decisions of the highest
courts game is the property of the state
the bulletin says. 1T should therefore be
carefully administered for the public good;
for, under proper management, il may be-
come one of the chief attractions Of the
state and may be even developed Into a
source of revenue. Its principal value lies,
not so much in the few dollars 1t may bring
to the individual hunter in the money it
may contribute to the state treasury. but
In the benefits it confers on the people at
large by furnishing them an incentive to
recreation and health.
Moreover. it may serve as an attraction
to persons from otner states, who, in the
pursuit of pleasure, spend far more than
the intrinsic value of the game they kill,
and who often by this means become IA
miliar with natural resources and opportu-
mites for investment that otherwise would
remain unknown to them Maine affords a
conspicuous example Of the advantages,
both direct and indirect, which state may
derive from carefully preserving its fish
and game To secure these benefits special
laws are necessary, and the general appre
citation of this fact is shown by the exist
ence of game laws in practically every
state and territory OF the Union and in all
the provinces of Canada. Without such
laws many valuable species would soon be
exterminated.
zone Of the factors which has played an
important part in Fastening the rapid de-
structfon of game In recent years is illegal
shipment from one state to another. This
has also proved one OF the most difficult
problems to cope with, primarily because
"a c 9 do he Inv STtp
ton of the several states. To meet this
dii1culty Congress, May %, 1900. passed an
act, known as the Lacey act. which extend
ed the duties of the Secretary OF Agricul-
ture to include matters connected with the
preservation of game, and prohibited inter-
state commerce in game killed in violation
or local laws. This federal law Is based to
certain extent state laws, and it's
proper enforcement requires a knowledge
OF certain local provisions which sub
Ject TO constant change"
Legislation in Several States.
The bulletin shows that during 1902 legs-
lative sessions have been held in about a
dozen states and territories and In several
provinces of Canada. Important game laws
have been enacted for Alaska, Kentucky
Louisiana and Ohio, and provisions have
been adopted for the protection of insectiv-
orous birds in Alaska, Kentucky, Ohio the
northwest territories and Washington coun-
ty. Md.
Among the most important features are
the non-export provisions in the laws OF
Alaska, Louisiana and South Carolina, re-
ducing the states which permit unlimited
shipment of game to three. all In the south.
Every state in which prairie chickens still
exist now prohibits their export and prac-
tically all but three of the states in which
quail occur protect the birds at all seasons
or make shipment out of the state illegal
Ohio has adopted an important provision
incorporated in the export laws of several
states, which requires all packages of game
to be clearly marked so as to show the ma
ture OF the contents and other details of
the shipment.
Jersey and Ohio-have Joined the ranks of
those which require nonresident hunters to
secure licenses In New Jersey the fee is
$40, in Kentucky and Ohio II Is 500 and I'm
Newfoundland under the new law it has
been increased to 800. Several counties
Of Maryland have likewise provided for
nonresident licenses. SO that Allegany
county is now the only county in the state
in which non-residents are permitted to
hunt without restriction. Louisiana, fol-
lowing the lead Of Missouri, has prohibited
non-residents from killing game within the
state, and New York. like Minnesota. has
enacted provision by which non-residents
from states which require licenses can
Kill game In New York only under licenses
similar TO those required in the case of non
residents in their own states.
New 1ork has also adopted an innovation
In game protection by permitting dealers
to hold game during the close season pro-
v!ded a bond is given that such game will
not be sold, used, given away or other
wise disposed of during the time that the
BOND Is in force. and that the owner will
not violate any Of the provisions of the
Forest, fish and game law. 1t remains to be
seen whether this act will fulfill all the ex-
pectations Of its advocates and effectually
prevent the sale OF game out of season
Expiration Of Laws.
Several changes have occurred through
expiration of laws by limitation. 1t Is Gus
tomary to extend absolute protection to
certain game for periods Of several years
CASUALLY three or five, and occasionally ten)
in order to allow depleted species to re-
cuperate or those recently introduced to
increase. The present year has witnessed
the expiration OF close terms in Idaho and
Pennsylvania for pheasants; in Texas for
antelope and pheasants, and in Wyoming
Tor moose; and also local close terms in
Maryland for woodcock In Worcester
county; in North Carolina for deer in Clay
and Macon counties; IN Tennessee for quail
In Bedford county, and quail, doves, snipe
and woodcock in Wilson county. In Vir-
ginia for imported pheasants in Rockbridge
county, and in New Brunswick for moose
and caribou west Of the st. John river. In
some OF these cases close season has been
provided, but in others there seems to be no
protection.
During the next two years numerous
other close terms for big game and upland
game birds Will expire by Limitation. In
lS3 the absolute protection Of certain game
which has prevailed for several years viii
expire in Massa chusetts deer; Nebraska
(quaiD; Nevada deer. antelope, mountain
quail and grouse); Oregon, east of the Cas-
cades (prairie chickens; South Carolina
Imported pheasants); Washington (quaiD
and Wisconsin Quail and pheasants) A
Few special county laws of the same char
acter In Maine, New York and New Bruins
wick will also expire by Limitation.
In 1904 close terms for various kinds of
game will expire In several states-Alabama
Imported pheasants); Idaho (moose and
caribou: Minnesota, Ohio and Oklahoma
(pheasants); Oregon (elk): and Nova Scotia
(red deer and elk). Similar laws in certain
counties in Tennessee and Oregon also ex-
pire In the same year. Unless provision is
made for extending these terms at the next
sessions of the legislatures the compile tie
protection which is still necessary In most
cases will cease. and where no close sea-
sons are provided protection will be left in
doubt
Close Seasons
No question in game protection is more
important than that Of the seasons during
which birds and animals shall be protected,
yet there is none in which state laws show
greater diversity or are more subject TO