The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-11-24
WHERE ARE THE BIRDS?
Sportsmen Alarmed at the
Scarcity of Game. All
Sections Report Same
Condition.

hoNo GllVu AOlu SuOolluS III MARY
land, says a writer in the Balti
more Sun. The fear that has
often been expressed-that the
partridges would be well nigh
exterminated-is now an estab.
lished fact. Plans are now rife
for action to be taken and there
are regrets over the failure to do
things which should have been
done several years ago.
The Maryland State Game aid
Fish Protective Association has
for years been carefully observ-
ant of events and it has seen the
passing of the game. The organ
ization made strenuous efforts to
secure legislation to offset the
conditions which members fore
saw and which are now existent.
Other persons who have insisted
upon local legislation success
fully cOmbated efforts made for
uniform game laws, and, the
Protective Association members
say, frustrated the movement to
perpetuate game in Maryland.
There is general demand now
that something be done, but those
who have been active heretofore
express a fear that when efforts
are made at the hext session of
the Legislature the same oppos-
ing spirit of old will be shown by
some members of the General
Assembly aud that a lot of local
laws will be passed which will, as
before, make void of results such
wholesome legislation az is on
the books. Local Legislation in
these matters take precedence of
the general State laws.
The field TRIALS which have Just
been run in Talbot County prov
ed that there were not as many
birds in this usually good hunt
ing country as can be found in
small fields within the boundar
les of Baltimore City. lR the
two days OF trial 10 birds were
found. The country hunted over
was covered with the safest
kind of stubble and ragweed, but
the extensive hunting IN previous
years and the failure to replenlsh
the stock supplemented by the
severe weather Of last winter and
the drowning rains of June, July
and AuguSt-lbe Matching sea-
son-wiped out most OF the birds.
Assistant Game Warden Oregon
Milton Dennis has similar reports
from his deputies III variouS parts
of the State. SportSmen WHO
have hunted in Mary land have
returned thoroughly di>gusted
with the results.
The State Game and Fish Pro
tective association has a com
miitee whose duty it is 10 form
ulate laws to be introduced in
the next Legislature looking to
the advancement of the game
and fish interests. The com
mittee is composed of men who
are regarded as too wise to waste
their time hunting in this State,
and thus have ouly their inter
est in the peIpetuation OF The
game supply to encourage them
TO the work.
The committee is composed of
MesSrs. William Is. Hurst, Geo,
Dobbin Penniman. Oregon Mil
ION Dennis, DeCourcey w. Thorn.
l.. NJ. Levering, William ii. Nc
Dnwel and kObert Ii. Gilbert.
This committee is now busy
mapping ,ut The laws to be pro
posed. Ii will meet In few
DAYS and its members will ex-
change ideas. 1t Is possible that
the legislation proposed IN the
last General Assembly Will, with
slight notifications, he again
introduced. Ii Is believed that
the we'll known prevalent condl-
tions will aid III causing broader
laws To he enacted.
Mr.. O. NJ Dennis says reports
recen ed by him from the deputy
game wardens have more than
convinced him OF the existing
necessity Tor prompt and well
defined legislation. lie says:
"A closed season Is now de
manded hy The conditions.
think that there should be com
mission composed of five men
appointed from various parts OF
tie Stale 10 devise proper legls
lation and then TO urge Its pas
sage. There should he uniform
game laws. The State could be
divided into two zones ana ap-
ploprlate open seasons could oe
arranged for these. In the north
ern and western sections the
shooting season could begin. ear
her than in the Southern part oi
the State.
INSTEAD Of shooters paying
tax in the various coun'les ad-
vocate tax on every gun owned
in Maryland. This tax would oe