The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-12-16
Partridges Increase Because New Law
is Enforced.

Nov that the season has opened,
hunting parties are being made up al
most daily. While the opinions of
those who hunt are dependent large
ly on the success with which they
meet. the general sentiment seems to
be that partridges are much more num-
erous this year than last. The coveys
are much larger and fields that were
not considered as occupied" are this
season supporting family Of birds,
showing that the number of coveys,
too, Gave Increased. For some years
game--that is partridges-for there is
no other gs,se in this section Of the
State, became 80 scarce that it looked
as though the sportsman would be be-
reft Of his psstime. The birds we're
in great danger Of becoming extinct,
just as deer and turkey have already
disappeared from this locality.
by the enactment Of the recent game
law and chs conscientious end dsterm-
ined enforcement with che aid OF i'm
terested people, the ruthless destruc-
tion and 1neportsmanlike hunting Of
persons who cared nothiug about the
sport, but were only out sor the mon.
ey in it, has been much checked and
birds have heen allowed 60 increase
and grow to maturity. The practice
OF trapping whole ooveys at time for
the markst is abominable and should
always be prevented, when possible.
The man vino will slaughter partridges
five or siE ct time, on the ground, is
not fit to own dog and gun. The op-
position Ct the true sportsman to this
kind of bagging is we'll known and the
man who allows his greedy methods
be known is sure to meet with the
just censure Of those vino ecorn TO
shoot save when the bird is on the
wing.
Partridges, and in fact, no game is
the property Of any particular person.
While the man upon whose land the
birds may feed, has the right to pre-.
vent persons from hunting and ranging
upon it, this right comes from the fact
that he owns the soil and can, there
fore, prevent trespassing of any kind
and not because he owns the game.
AS in England, game in this country
is considered in state Of nature, and
is the property Of him who takes It.
1t belongs to all in very much the same
way that the air and light does, every
one has right to use his share, but
the supply must not be monopolised
any more than the waters of4a stream.
It is because Of this that the State
has taken hand in the protection Of
its game. The laws of South Carolina
are in no way peculiar. Nearly ell
States, realizing the Importance Of
preserving partridges aud all other
species Of game, have passed laws with
this in view, and most Of them are de-
cidedly more etringent than those Of
this State. Mississippi and South
Caroline are the only States that do
not employ wardens. During the past
three years the State Of Ohio has spent
more than $50, 900 in importing and
projecting game, o condition brought
about because no effort had been mede
to preserve the birds Before their com.
piete determination.
Like many other laws now on the
statute books in which the mass OF
people feel no decided interest, either
because they can see no immediate
benefit or because they prefer to kill
the goose and let the golden eggs Of
the future go, the game laws have not
been enforced as they should. They
hsve not had the moral support cf the
people. Now that new interest
seems to have been awakened and more
people are beginning to realize that
snmething must be done and done
quickly. it is hoped that the good work
will not only 60 on but that it will be
broadened and it's sphere Of influence
increased. The game must be pro.
teoted and the laws are good enou gh.
They must be enforced and it is the
duty of the people to guard them just
as much as any other laws passed by
the legislature. .--Gfsenville News.
4 .szassye Rrsaaao CUE