Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-02-19
STATE LEGISLATURE.


week OF its existence, or what will prob
ably be the last week of the first half
OF the session, it being the general i'm
preston that the present term will not
extend over twelve weeks. The week
was productive of material results, and
a vast amount Of business was disposed
Of. As was expected, the legislators
remained at their desks until Wednes-
day.
Not the least important matters that
at present engage the attention of the
lawmakers are the proposed amend
ments to the fish and game laws which
have been suggested by the state fish
and game commission and which will
probably receive favorable action at
the hands of the legislature.
A bill has been introduced by Sena-
tor Mckee of Passaic that is designed
to be a general revision of the fish and
game laws and contains several impor-
tant changes. The revision materially
changes the section of the game laws
relating to the trapping of rabbits. A
wall was heard from the farmers of
Hunterdon that their fruit trees were
despoiled by the rabbits, who eat the
bark off those trees, and at their de-
mand the legislature few years ago
passed a law permitting farmers to
trap rabbits during the winter months.
In the revision this right is extended
to all months Of the year, the only
qualification being that the rabbits
must have destroyed some of the prod
ucts of the farm.
The revision shortens the open sea-
son for ducks, geese and similar birds,
the open time being made from Oct.
to April 10. The section preventing
the killing of snipe during April will
practically do away with snipe shoot
ing, as the birds are scarce and in poor
condition during March, which Is the
only spring month in which their kill
ing is permitted by the new bill. Two
Important changes are recommended in
the section relating to birds, one of
which is TO prevent milliners from sell
ing the plumage of any wild birds,
game birds being excepted, but there
is no restriction against women wear
ing such pluMaGe. The bill protects
the goshawk, the most destructive of
all hawks, and several other specimens
of hawks that have always been con-
sidered harmful. All protection is re-
moved from the osprey or fishhawk,
which has always been protected in
this state and in nearly every other
state. the bird being regarded as val
liable scayenger. The killing of doves
is prohibited, and only the great horned
owl may be killed of the owl family.
An open season for the killing Of shore
birds is fixed at from April Is TO Nov.
3d. but this swill have no effect, as these
birds are in the state only during the
months of the closed season. The kill
ing of prairie chickens and wild tur-
keys is not taken seriously, as there
are no prairie chickens or wild turkeys
in the state, except in the section
which objects to having them in pos
session.
All Sections Not Satisfied.
a KG1GIdi ODCu SSdSOl1 Luz Tic hAAA4AASo
of partridge, quail, woodcocl1, rabbits
and squirrel is fixed Mt from Oct. % to
Dec. %. It is expected that little or no
opposition will arise from north Jer-
sey to this section, except from few
woodcoek gunners, who will probably
insist that woodcock should be killed
in July. It is probable that the hunt
ers of south Jersey will enter protest
at the opening of the season as early
as Oct. % and closing it as early as
Christmas day The season i'll south
Jersey is about two weeks later than
it is in the northern end of the state,
but it is doubtful if law satisfactory
to both sections can be drawn.
The new law proposes protection
for pickerel. inasmuch as it provides
that it will be unlawful to retain pos
session of pickerel less than twelve
inches in length. There is a section pro-
hibiting the sale Of any artificial bait
having more than three hooks attached.
The revision returns to the old custom
of making the open season for bass be-
gin on Memorial day, which season
was the rule several years ago and
which makes the opening Of the bass
season in this state earlier than it is
Ia other states
May Mean Special Commission.
The number of fish and game bills al
ready introduced has prompted the sug-
gestion that the legislature should pass
a general bill authorizing the governor
to appoint a special commission TO in
vestigate the fish and game conditions
Of New Jersey and report to the next
legislature such recommendations as
would be satisfactory solution of this
yexed question. 1t is believed that
such a commission could agree upon
and report a game law which would
be applicable to the entire state and at
the same time be generally satisfactory
to all of the conflicting interests, the
objective point of such law to be to
subserve the best interests Of the state
in the preservation of its game.
The Governors Nominations.
Governor Murphy sent the following
nominations to the senate last Monday
night:
For circuit court judge, to succeed
- NJ. MENUS, GudI1SS W. dkASI
of Hudson county.
For lay judge Of the court of errors
and appeals, to succeed Gotfried Krue-
ger George r. Gray of Essex county.
For judge of the Second district court
of Hudson comfy. James S. Erwin, to
succeed Charles w. Parker
Captain Parker is a resident of Jer-
sey City and is brother of Congress
man Richard Wayne Parker. He was
recently named as assistant adjutant
general of the state by Governor Muir
ply. He served on the governors per
sonal staff until named as assistant adj
jutant general. He will have TO resign
as district court judge in Jersey City
to accept his new birth. Judge Neyius
sought a reappointment. George R.
Gray of Newark was formerly state
treasurer. James S. Erwin, who sue
ceeds Judge Parker, was recently turn
ed down by the Hudson county Repub-
lican organization for reappointment
as prosecutor Of the pleas.
For a Railroad Commission.
A bill providing for the creation of