Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
MARYLAND BIRD LAW
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS RE
CURED TO PROCURE LICENSE.
Regulations Made Stringent and Viola
tons to Be Punished by Fine
or Imprisonment.

The bird shooting season in this vicinity
is beginning, and the usual interest is be-
ing manifested by those who are fond of
the gun. Yesterday was the first day for
bird shooting in the District, and
many sportsmen were in the marshes yes
terday and today. In this connection con-
siderable interest Is felt in the action OF
the Maryland legislature at its last session
affecting the shooting season on the Pa
tuxent river, which Is a favortte hunting
place for WashingtOnians as well as Mary
landers and others for miles around. The
seasons have been changed and the hunting
regulations made more stringent.
The law prohibits shooting on the Pa
tuxent by non-residents without first pro-
curing a license, the fee of which amounts
to s11 and also securing written per-
mission from the owners of land bor-
dering on the river. 1t makes the open
season of duck hunting in the counties Dor
dering on the Patuxent extend from Au-
gust 2 to April IA, and the open season for
ortolan and reed birds from September IL
to December 81, inclusive. Many persons
are preparing to hunt ortolan and reed
birds in the Patuxent, beginning with Mon
day.
Quotation From the Law.
The section of the Maryland law which
has aroused the most interest provides that
it shall not be lawful for any person, not a
bona fide resident of the state Of Maryland,
to hunt, shoot or trap within the state,
upon the waters of the Patuxent river, its
tributaries or marshes of the said river or
tributaries, any wild goose. wild duck, snipe
or ortoan, reed bird or bird or wild fowl
Of any description. at any season of this
year unless such nonresident person shall
have first obtained from the clerk of the
circuit court of one of the counties border
ing on that river license permitting the
person named to hunt, shoot or trap the
birds and wild fowl upon the waters of the
river, its tributaries or marshes Of the
river or tributaries. A license so obtained
shall be limited the limitations to be
for shooting the birds mentioned and wild
fowls; shall not be transferable under the
penalty of forfeiture of the same and a
fine Of not more than $25, and shall expire
at the end of one year from the date of Its
issue.
Any person desiring such license must
apply for the same in person, to the clerk
of court, and shall pay therefor the sum
of $40, which amount shall be paid to the
board of county school commissioners of
the county in which the license was is
sued. for the use of the public school there
of. In addition thereto the person securing
the license shall pay to the clerk the sum
of 81 as fee for issuing the license. The
clerk is required to prepare and keep a book
substantially bound of the blank license
with stub thereto, and when such license
is issued ny hin d Iull MEMORANDUM IleT6-
of shall be entered on the stub of the IL
cense, which stub shall remain in the book,
and be public record of the office. Before
such license shall be delivered to the ap-
plicant therefor. the applicant shall write
his name and address on the license and on
the stub.
Any nonresident who violates any of
the provisions of this section shall be DEEM
ed guilty of a miSdemeanor and upon con-
viction thereof in the circuit court, or be-
fore any justice of the peace of the state of
Maryland, in and for any of the counties
bordering on the river named, shall be fined
50 for each wild goose, wild duck, Snipe,
ortolan, or reed bird or other birds or wild
fowls shot taken, whether found or
not found in his possession. one half of the
fine to go to the informer If any, and the
other half, or whole, the case may be,
to the board of county school commission
ers of the county wherein the offense was
tried for the benefit of the public schools
thereof. Upon the failure of the offenders
to pay the fine, and all cost incident to the
trials, the offenders shall be committed by
the court which, or justice who, imposed
the fine, to the county Jail in the county
wherein the offense was tried, for period
of ten days.
District Gunners on the Marshes.
The fall cunning season opened yesterday
morning in the District of Columbia, as
stated, under favorable auspices, with the
exception of a low tide. Gunners were
Early morning sport was not as good as
had been anticipated because of the low
water. This afternoon, when the tide was
just right for the gunners and "pushers,
almost every available boat was taken to
the marshes. Ortolan were found eXcep-
tionally plentiful and reed birds were more
plentiful than usual but the sportsmen
did not bag many of them. Better sport
is promised on the afternoon tide
Dealers in market did not get their usual
large supplies of birds, but the prices We're
not higher than is usual the opening
day of the season. Reed birds were sell
ing at 10 cents a dozen, ortolan at the
same price and black birds at 80 cents.
The price charged for woodcock was 70
cents each. and snipe We're to be had for
% cents each. 1t is thought that fully
300 gunners were about the marshes
this morning. Those who were unable to
get boats seemed satisfied to walk about
the edges OF the marshes and along the
shores of the river and branch and pick
off the frightened birds they tried to
escape the shot from the guns of those who
were wading or were in the boats.