The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-06
PROTECTION OF BIRDS.
Tremendous Advance in Southern
 Game Laws in Last Few Years. Washington Correspondence New York

Tremendous Advance in Southern Game Laws in Last Few Years.
 Washington Correspondence New York Post.
 If one were to compare the game laws of 1900 and the provisions for guards today, one would notice tre- mendous advance. Still more true is this of the contrast between 1890 and the present time. While there Is an occasional backward step. and many inadequate steps, the general move ment is strongly in the right direc- tion.
 Although the legislatures of only about one-third of the States have been in session during the last win ter. in nearly every one of these new game laws, or important amendments to old ones have been passed. The four most important measures, view ing the subject in Its national aspects. since no State works for itself alone in these matters. are the new game law for Louisiana, the new laws in Ken lucky. the search law and the shorten ing of the season on shore birds in Massachusetts. and the group of acts which have been passed in New York The most important of these New York laws stops spring shooting of shore birds, extending to them the protection which the year before had been gained after a long struggle. for the ducks.
 Much progress has been made in the protection of song and insectivor- ous birds. especially in the South. A comprehensive law has been passed by both Mississippi and Louisiana The former had no legislation before, and the latter had laws which amounted to little. The importance of this comes from the fact that New Orleans has been the center of the cage-bird traf- tic of the South for many years par ticularly in mocking-birds and cardi- nals. which have been sent all over the country from that city. Under the new law the sale and shipment of these birds outside the State Is absolutely prohibited and for all the year around. This will affect the trade in all the big cities of the country
 There is great difference between laws of the United States regarding these non-game birds and those of other countries. A report recently came to the State Department telling or the passage of a game law in Prus- sia, on July IT,, afrord!ng protection of non game birds from June f, San- tember 20. This gives three montns in which they may not be shot, while in the United States. nearly overywh,r. east of the Mississippi and in several States west of 1t, we have wh1t ia known as the uniform law, which pro- tects these non-game birds throughout the year. We do not allow their sale or shipment out of the State, or their possession. In new legisl ition We have a special clause prohibiting the sale of their plumage. The fight In the millinery trade seems to be nearly won. Abroad these non-game birds are still considerably used in milli- nery. but here public sentiment against 1t. re-enforced by law, seems to be af- fecting for good the decrees of fash ion.
 The last year is also notable for the decisions of the courts upholding game legislation. In Colorado the Court of Appeals upheld the game law in very strong terms upon a technical case in- volved in the sale of deer hides.
 Another famous decision was that in Minnesota. where two men were fined $lo each for 2,000 ducks making a line Of S24. 900. or two years in jail One Of them Is already serving time. while the other has had his case remanded to the lower court for a new trial This ia probably the largest fine ever imposed in game case. and the question before the Supreme Court was whether 1t was an excessive one. We import 200 900 canaries year and 50,O0o other cage birds"