New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-29
FIGHT OYER GAME BILL.
Measure for the Spring Shooting of
Ducks Meets zcith Opposition.
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCSE.I

Albany. April 2S-with only a week Of the Iegis-
lative session remaining. the fight the spring
shooting bill grows intensely hot and interesting.
introduced by Mr. Hubs. IL passed the Assembly
yesterday and last night many of the members
who voted for it received the promised reward Of
a hot bird and a cold bottle" but on the Senate
is tightly locked up in the Forest.
Fish and Game Committee which expresses the in
tention to retain II unless absolutely compelled TO
let 90.
This measure has been before the legislators
since the spring shooting Of all birds except brant
was forbidden 1t applies only to Long Island.
where an open season for ducks is wanted from
March 10 to May l. The present law prevents duck
shooting from September to January only. Wig
orous objection to the bill comes from many OF the
upstate sportsnens clubs and others, who declare
that an open season at this time when the birds
are on their northern flight and already paired,
may prove a temporary benefit for the hunters OF
Long Island. but will make game OF this kind
scarce in upstate and in the end njure the
sport all over the State They assert also that no
true sportsman wants it. and that the real in
fuences behind it are those who hope benefit
by the arrival of hunters in the supplementary sea
son.
The measure however has the support OF a num-
Der of the leaders, including Senators Raines and
Malby. and urgent efforts are being made in its
behalf Former Senator Elon r. Brown. when he
was chairman of the Forest, Fish and Game Com
mission. last year succeeded in defeating the bill.
and appeared against it at the committee hearing
Brown said:
have learned that it is reported that the chair
of the Republican state Committee promised
Se 9i 5i the voe of sg G County as @ b
cause the Republicans we're afraid OF the vote on
Long Island. l Go not believe IT. You will have to
produce written proof here before you can charge
up to him. The Governor of the State. who then
held the position of chairman of the State COM
mittee. had too high a conception Of his response
biltieS to the people of the State than to trade
away their rights and rely upon legislature not
yet elected to carry out bargain.
Notwithstanding this statement. the assertion has
been made this year that there was such promise
and that the legislature must carry it out One of
the strongest opponents of the spring shooting
proposition Is the national Department Of Agri-
culture whose agent. DIR. Palmer. appeared in op-
position to the bill this year. There are four
flights of ducks northward each year. and the At
lanttc Coast line is one Of the avenues they fol-
low. while the two stations where the birds pause
for rest and food the shores Of Chesapeake Bay
and Long Island. Following the example Of this
State. all the States bordering the Atlantic Coast
except New-JerSey and Connecticut have abolished
spring shooting, and other States the routes OF
the other great migratory flights have done the
same thing. Four provinces Of Canada have for
hidden spring shooting. and the birds fully pro-
tected in the Southern feeding grounds.