Evening star., 1903-08-25
BIRD SEASON OPENS
GUNNERs PERMITTED TO BAG
GAME TUESDAY NEXT.
Local sportsppen Somewhat Perturbed
Over Prospects Offered in the
Nearby States.

Local sportsmen are considerably agi-
tated over the prospects of being unable tc
visit the nearby states this fall in pursuit
OF game. The laws in Maryland and Vir-
g1nia are by no means similar and they are
not even alike in the different counties OF
each state. In some places a license ts
required, while in other places the law per-
mits land owners to invite their friends to
hunt on their property. It Is said that the
lowest license in Virginia is SO for the
privilege of days sport, and the consent
OF the owner of the land has to be obtained
IN addition to the license fee. In Mary
land the land owners and residents have
the privilege Of inviting their friends to
shoot on their grounds and those who are
without Maryland friends will have to pay
cash for the right to hunt.
The season for reed birds and ortolan In
the District opens next Tuesday, and sew
eraI hundred sports who enjoy marsh shoot.
ing are already getting their guns and am
munition In readiness. Under the law 1t Is
provided that no person shall Kill, expose
for sale, or have in his or her possession.
either dead or alive. any water rail or orto-
Ian, reed bird or rice bird. marsh black
bird, or other game bird not previously
mentioned, between the 1st day of Feb
ruary and the 1st day of September, under
a penalty of 81 for each water rail or orto-
Ian. reed bird or rice bird. marsh black
bird, or other game bird not previously
mentioned, killed, exposed for sale. or had
in his or her possession. either dead or
alive, and in default thereof to be impris-
oned in the workhouse for period not less
than fifteen days nor more than six months.
Provisions of the Law.
The question Of trespassing on lands in
the county by gunners is fully covered in
the game law in a section that reads as
follows:
That any person who shall knowingly
trespass on the lands of another for the
purpose of shooting or hunting thereon
after due notice by the owner or occupant
Of lands, shall be liable to such owner or
occupant in exemplary damages to an
amount not exceeding $1O0. That notice
shall be given by erecting and maintaining
signboards, at least by II inches in oil
menSionS, on the borders of the premises,
and at least two such signs for every nifty
acres; and any person who shall maliciously
tear down or in any manner deface or in
jure any of such signboards shall be liable
to a penalty of not less than s. for each
and every signboard so torn down, defaced
or injured; and in default to be 1mprls-
oned for period not exceeding thirty days
1t Is violation of law to do any shooting
on Sunday or to have implements for shoot
ing in possession on such day.
Birds Will Be Plentiful.
Until the decided change In the weather
a few days ago 1t was feared by sportsmen
that reed birds would be as scarce this year
as they were last. They were exceptionally
rare last year, and market dealers found 1t
difficult to get birds enough from this sec
ton to supply their trade. 1t is now be-
ieved that the birds will be plentiful this
year. Had the cool weather continued, 1t
was thought, the birds would not have
stopped here long enough to have furnished
any sport. A change has been made by the
warm weather, and there are now quite a
number of reed birds on the marshes.
Blackbirds have been in evidence some little
time. The wild oats are in splendid condi-
ton now, and should the warm weather
continue few days they will afford more
than food enough to get the birds in first
class condition by the time the season
opens.
Reedbird and ortolan shooting invariably
begins in the morning, as soon as there is
daylight enough for the gunners to see the
birds. AS there are public roads and rail-
road lines in the vicinity of some of the
marshes where the shooting will be done it
is more than likely that Major Sylvester
will have the police pay more than ordinary
attention to these places to insure safety
to passengers on the cars and pedestrians.