The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-23

Editor Morning News: The edito-
rial in yesterdays Morning News,
Protect the Birds'e is in the right d.
rection. There Is no county in the
state of Georgia where birds, either
song, insectivorouss OF game, and other
game and water fowl, need protection
so much as in Chatham county. For
ten years or more there has been a
steady decrease in the number of song
and game birds in this section, and
unless steps are taken to stop the
wanton shooting of innocent songsters,
and the indiscriminate slaughter Of
game birds and water fowl, the next
ten years will see the complete ami
hilation of the feathery tribe in these
parts. Song and game birds and other
wild game are certainly in need of pro-
lection, and the way to insure that
protection is for the friends of the
sweet-throated songsters and the con-
sentative sportsmen in this section to
lock arms and go shoulder to shoulder
to war against those who would de-
stroy the innocent, either for pecu-
mary gain or through utter wanton-
ness. The way to do this is not diff
cult. We have only to do as our
Northern and Western brothers have
done and are still doing. We want
laws that will protect the birds, and
we must needs have officers who will
enforce those laws. In the Morning
News editorial of yesterday the
names of ten states, viz: Indiana, YER
mont, Arkansas, Illinois, Rhode Island,
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu-
sets, Connecticut, New York. New
Jersey, Delaware, Florida, Wisconsin,
Wyoming, are given as having passed
laws looking to the protection of nom
game birds. Let me add that these
states have also laws that are rigidly
enforced as regards game birds, wa
ter fowl and wild game. The laws
that apply to the feathery tribe and
wild game in the above named states
are the fruits of the labors of an or
ganization of 5000 members. 1t is
known from one end of the Union to
the other as the League of American
Sportsmen, and it has We'll organized
branches in almost every state of the
Union, whose members are in honor
bound compelled to enforce the laws
where such exist and to have laws
enacted where they do not exist which
will protect song birds at all seasons
of the year, and which will protect
game birds and wild game during the
closed season. Not only does this or
ganization strive to protect song birds
at all times and game birds and wild
game during the closed season, but it
also is responsible for the pas
sage of laws in some states
which limits the number of game birds
hunter may kill in one days shoot,
and specifies the number of deer, tur-
key, antelope, etc, which any one per-
son may shoot in a season. This or
ganization was the power which caused
the passage Of law in the New York
Legislature a month or so ago pro-
hibiting the shooting of live pigeons
from traps in that stote In this or
ganization the enforcement of the
game laws is not left to the county
officers. Each state division has its
chief game warden, whose duty it is to
prosecute every violation of the law,
and for which he receives $40 for every
conviction. The expenses of prosecu-
tion are paid out of the treasury of
the League of American Sportsmen.
After five years of uphill fighting
sufficient number of members have
been enrolled in this state (Georgia) to
cause the establishment of chapter in
the state.
There is only one way in which to
protect and perpetuate our song, in
sectivorous and game birds and other
wild game, and that is for every.
man and woman who loves
the sweet-throated songsters: every
sportsman. every lover of the field and
gun, who would save our game birds
and other wild game from total de-
struction. to become a member of the
League of American Sportsmen, and
help their fellow members in the Geor-
gia Chapter to enforce the bird and
game laws, when such exist, and to
have enacted suitable laws where such
Z DO not now exist Let us get together
in this grand and noble cause while
there is yet time to do good.
tse J. S. Estill.
April %. 1902.