The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-30

to the passage of laws similar in this re-
spect to the Audubon law in many States,
and in many countries outside of oul
Union. In twenty-siX States and every
where in Canada, licenses must be secur
ed before non-residents may hunt Ger
tain game or hunt at all. The cost OF
the license in the several States is as
follows: West Virginia, SIS; Kentucky,
$25; Ohio SOS; Indiana, $25; Illinois, $40,
Maryland, S5-$25; Delaware S. New Jer-
sey, $40; Michigan, $25; Wisconsin, SO
$25; Minnesota, $25; Nebraska, $40; North
Carolina, $40; North Dakota, $25; Penn
sylvania. SO; Montana, $15-$25; Washing
ton, $40; Oregon, $40; Arkansas, So;
Florida, $40; Wyoming, $40; and South
Carolina, $25.
The Audubon Society is not seeking to
drive out the nonresident sportsmen as
this gentleman charges. Probably there
is no county in the State in which there
is more income from the nonresident
partridge shooters than in Guilford. Last
year the taxes paid upon the farmers, lapd
by this class of hunters for shooting privi-
leges amounted to $1,000, one-third of the
land in the county being leased in this
to drive them out and yet from this coun-
ty where the Audubon law is pretty well
understood over $500 in membership fees
has been paid to the Society this year
the contributions coming from all classes
of philosophical citizens-the merchants
and professional men, the farmers and
the mechanics. / know of nothing but
good will in his county for the Audobo1
Society and the work it is attempting to
do.
1 may say further that so far from re-
garding this license as burden con-
siderable number of nonresident sports
men have united with the Audubon So
ciety and are cheerfully paying their an
nual membership fees of $500 each with a
full knowledge of the fact that they are
each to pay SO additional as license for
hunting privileges, and that these fees
are to be placed at the disposal of the
Audubon Society to aid in protecting the
game.
1t is the usual custom for States to COM
mission some person or persons with the
power of assisting in the enforcement of
the bird and game laws. 1t is the only
way which has proven successful in en-
forcing these laws. The Audubon Society
of North Carolina was commissioned with
this duty just as commissions are given
in other States for a like purpose. Thir-
ty-four States in the Union already have
such commissions.
The Audubon Society was chartered on
the 9Th of March, 1903. No appropriation
was made by the State for game protec
ton, none was asked for, and this work
for the present must be carried forward in
large part by the membership fees con
tributed by persons who are willing to
help forward the movement The So
ciety has already distributed over one
hundred thousand copies of the new State
bird law and literature on bird and game
protection; by the help of its friends it
has been able to maintain wardens along
the coast all this summer to protect the
colonies of sea birds in their nesting
places from the millinery feather hunt
ers. 1t has been instrumental in secur-
ing the conviction of two persons who
killed lnsect-eating birds for fun one
for killing song birds with which to feet
a pet opossum, and one for killing game
birds before the. season opened 1t i,
seeking to arrange for the appointment
and payment of State game wardens in
every county in the State where there is
need Tor such officers or where the PEG
pie desire one.
The entire. expenses of the Audubon So
ciety work have thus far been paid by
the membership fees and gifts of public
spirited people who wish to see the work
go forward, and the Society's more rapid
progress is only limited by the lack of
funds.
. l will take this opportunity to say that
the Audubon Society will be pleased to
forward to any one who is interested
copies of the new bird law with warming
notices for posting, and the other litera-
ture which it has for distribution, and
the Secretary will gladly correspond with
any one in regard to the better protec-
ton Of the game in his community. Hun
dreds OF the ablest and best men of North
Carolina are members of the Audubon So
ciety. It's numbers are growing rapidly
and the promoters Of the organiza ton
have little fear of the final verdict of the
rlght-minded people of the State
T. GILBERT PEARSON,
Secretary Audubon Society.
HGreensboro, N G.. Sept. 30.