Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19
INTEREST OF TRUE SPORT.
How the Game Laws Work in Nearby
States

People who find sport In the fields with
dogs and gun are decidedly up against it,
according to- one of the enthusiasts who
conversed with a Star reporter one day this
week There was time when sportsmen
could go away from home in the morning
with a dog or two, gun and ammunition
and enjoy a days sport almost anywhere
near the city. But such is not the case now
because of the laws passed by the several
state legislatures and for other reasons Of
more Importance to the average farmer.
Many farmers have had experience with al
legged sportsmen who have invaded their
farms and not been satisfied with shooting
game. Many fat turkey, chicken or pig
con has fallen prey to the sports and made
the enactment of stringent laws Imperative.
1t has been but a short time since the
police were looking for a man for a dead
1y assault who was said to have moved out
of the state of Virginia. because he did not
like his neighbors. The truth was, however
that he had shot tame turkeys of some of
his neighbors and been made to pay for
them. There are many such cases and legit-
innate sportsmen fully understand why their
rights have been curtailed
Such sports are not satisfied with killing
wild game, but are willing to XIII anything
in sight rather than go home empty-hand-
ed. Ducks and geese have been killed al
most in barnyards near the homes of farm
ers, and property other than fowls has fire.
quently been damaged. When a farmer
has had dose of such treatment he is
willing that the Legislature should enact al
most any kind of law.
These laws, it is thought, have operated
to the advantage of the farmer and the
protection of game 1t is the general opln-
ion of people in Maryland and Virginia
that without the protecting laws small
game would have been almost extinct in the
states by this time AS it is, there is
plenty of game for the country people and
little for the outsiders who can manage to
get in a days sport without violating the
law. Because of the different laws in the
many counties of the nearby states gun
ner finds it necessary almost to become a
lawyer before he can venture on shoot
ing expedition. The laws are by no means
uniform, and what would be permitted in
one county would mean the getting of a
man behind the bars in another. Not many
weeks ago Washington man VINO was
caught in one of the states violating the
law was required to pay a fine of more
than 800 in order to keep from spending
a long term in a prison, where the man In
charge throws away the key when he leaves
the building
There was another case in which a fine
was imposed and the judgment marked
Satisfied but in which the fine was not
actually paid. Three men were invited 10
one of the states to enjoy days sport,
and it was apparent to them that they
were the victims of confidence game when
a constable arrested them. When taken
before magistrate tney were heavily
and a check was given the magistrate for
the amount. The check was accepted, but
the gunner reached here ahead of the
check and had payment stopped.
And" he said to a friend afterward,
Il never went back"
In Virginia the game law provides against
the taking out of the state of more than
stated number of birds and a penalty of
$40 bird is provided for all over this num-
Der. In North Carolina, where there is
similar law on the statute books, birds are
always plentiful, and a sportsman is likely
to become tired of s!aughtering them be-
cause he knows he has to leave them be-
hind and cannot bring them home to send
to his friends
1T seems an easy matter to evade the
law in this respect" remarked a sportsman
upon his return from trip, but it isn't
1 tried it and failed for the amount of al
most a months salary. / had had fine
sport and was anxious to treat my friends
Upon my return home. With a feeling of
security l packed away the birds in my
valise and went to the railroad sta ton.
All went we'll until dog came in contact
with my baggage, and l found it impos-
sible to shake him off. The animal acted
as if he were on a field flushing a bird.
Very much to my sorrow / learned that
the dog was owned by game warden and
had been trained for duty at railroad sta
tons. There was nothing left for me to do
but open up and pay the penalty"