The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-24
Under the Dome.

The Audubon bill introduced into the
House yesterday by Representative
Robertson, of Guilford, is the result of
an organized effort on the part of the
sportsmen and other bird lovers of the
State to bring about some measures for
the enforcement of the game laws, to
protect the lives of song birds, and to
stop the heartless slaughter for mill
linery purposes of the gulls, terms and
other sea birds along the North Carolina
coast.
The bill calls for the incorporation Of
the Audubon Society of North Carolina, -
and the investing of it with the powers of
providing for the appointment and main
tanning of game wardens. whose duty it
protective laws. The bill calls for no
appropriation from the State, but pro-
vides for a revenue to be raised oddly
enough from class OF persons, numbers
of whom have already declared their de-
sire to furnish it, these are the nom
resident gunners. 1t is proposed to re-
quire gunner, not resident OF the
State to pay $40 for a seasons license
before he can shoot in the State, this
money to be turned over to the Audubon
Society to be used for the employment
of game wardens.
Those who have the bill in charge are
receiving numerous letters from nom
residents urging that this be done. The
following letter is an example and will
serve to show the spirit of the gentle
men who come to this State for the
shooting advantages here offered:
January 18th, 1908.
Secretary of Audubon Society.
Dear Sir: AS nonresident shooter
and one who leases land in the State of
North Carolina, l write to tell you how
heartily 1 endorse your proposed nom
resident tax.
1.-THE majority of non-residents who
shoot in North Carolina are interested in
leased lands, which cost them from
SIS per year up into the hundreds and
more, and it is greatly to their advantage
that the game of the State should be
we'll protected, and l know that as a
class they will feel it no hardship to
contribute to this most worthy purpose.
Every truly yours,
HENRY L. LEE,
'21 w. 18th street, New York"
This idea of taxing a nonresident is
not a new thing. In twenty-five States
and everywhere in Canada, licenses must
be secured before residents may
hunt certain game or hunt at all. The
cost of the license in the several States
is as follows: West Virginia, $25; Ken
lucky, $25; Ohio, $25; Indiana, $25; ILL
nois; $40; Maryland, $685.; Delaware,
So; New Jersey, $40; Michigan, $25; Wis
consin, $1O-$25; Minnesota, $25; Ne
hraska SO; North Dakota, $25; South
Dakota, s25; Pennsylvania, $10 Montana,
$15-$25; Washington, $40; Oregon, $40;
Arkansas, $40: Florida. SO; Wyoming,
s4O;, and South Carolina, $25.
1t will be noticed from this list that
the States which charge the non-resi-
dent license are those States noted for
their game The nonresident gentlemen
sportsmen-not the market pot-hunters
who kill and ship quantities of birds
illegally from the State-are class of
people to be encouraged to come among
u.s. for in practice they leave much money
in the State and kill but few birds. Not
the least Of the advantages to be de-
rived from bird protection by game
wardens is that it will without a doubt
encourage this class of shooters to come
to our State.
The Audubon Bill also provides for the
protection fthe song and most of the
insect destroying birds of the State. The
English sparrows, hawks, owls, crows
blackbirds and rice birds are extended
no protection.
- 81 49,, ~
is the prohibiting of the further shoot
ing of the beautiful sea gulls and terms.
1t is we'll known to the people of the
State that the vast swarms of these
birds which, a few years ago bred on our
coast have nearly all been slaughtered
for millinery purposes, and their young
left to rot in the sunshine. Along the
coast of every State north of North Car
DINA, the birds are protected by war
dens, and the birds are permitted to rear
their young in safety. They are also
protected about the Florida coast, where
they go in numbers upon the approach
of winter. But during the migrating
season as they pass the North Carolina
coast they are waylaid and systemati-
cally shot for their feathers.
1t is known that one man along the
Carolina banks hires several men to
shoot these birds, and has already been
responsible for the destruction of large
numbers of them.
The Audubon Society proposes to stop
this by its warden system, if power be
granted to it by the Legislature. The
Audubon Bill is a long step taken to-
ward bird protection in the State, it is
not radical nor stringent, and already
has. many friends
There is a delegation of citizens from
Roanoke Island here for the purpose of
attending the meeting of the State Com
mittee on the proposed celebration Of
the landing of Sir Walter Raleigh's col
ony and early attempts at colonization
and to attend the annual meeting of the
State Literary and Historical Associa-
ticn.
This delegation will also go before the
House Committee on Fish and Fisheries
in opposition to the bill, introduced by
Col. w. H. Lucas. of Hyde, to prohibit