Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
GAME LAWS COMPILED
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES PAMPHLET.

A compilation of she game laws Of Mary
land and Virginia, the District OF Columbia
and North Carolina has just been issued
by the biological survey of the Department
of Agriculture. 1t will be seen that In Vir-
ginia and the District there Is "state
game law" while in Maryland and North
Carolina there are separate laws for each
county. The protective laws are rather
severe In all places. There Is q federal
law prohibiting the shipment from any
state of game killed illegally-that Is, by
illegal Misunderstanding the closed season
or when there Is prohibition against ship
ment. The fine is not to exceed 500 and
the carrier and the consignee are also la
BILE. The federal law prohibits the ship
ment OF game from a state at any time I'M
less the package is plainly marked with
the nature of the contents and the name
and address of the shipper. The penalty
is the same as the above.
Hunting in the District Is prohibited by
act of June 30. 1905, except in the marshes
of the Eastern branch above the Anacostia
bridge and in the marshes on the Virginia
shore of the Potomac: but it is stipulated
that there shall be no hunting within 200
yards of a house bridge. There are a
good many animals mentioned i'll the lis.
for which there is a closed season that are
not to be found outside the Zoo-as for in
stance, deer. woodcock and pheasant The
closed season for squirrels is January 1 to
September 1: rabbits, February 1 to No
vember l; quail. March 10 to November /;
wild turkey, December Is to November l;
reed birds from February to September 1;
plover, snipe, April to September 1; duck,
April to September 1.
Glasses Not Mentioned.
There are a good many classes of game
not mentioned in the foregoing that are
also protected from sale. except in certain
oh
to September 1; goose and brant, from
April 1 to September 1; marsh blackbirds
and all other game birds not specifically
mentioned. from February 1 to September
l. All wild birds except game birds and
certain injurious species protected all
the year round, and this is also the ase
with doves. Robins. gulls, herons, swallows
and grebes are. protected. but there is no
protection to English sparrows, crows,
hawks and great horned owls.
The law in Virginia varies not more than
a month east and west of the Blue Ridge.
The open season for deer is from October
1 to January l on both sides of the noun
ta!ns. Wild turkeys may be hunted from
Blue Ridge. while the law west Of the Blue
Ridge opens November 1 and closcs jan
uary 1.
The list. of nom protected species is the
same as In the District, except that 1t in
cludes eagles, backbirds and rice birds.
Other non-game birds are protected all the
year round. The laws in Maryland and
North Carolina, varying as they do with
produce. Those who are interested in the
matter should get copy of the game law
sheet from the Department of Agriculture.
The details as to shipment and license are
to be had in Farmers Bulletin No. 265
which may be had free on application to
the Secretary of Agriculture.
Changes Made by Congress.
Radical In bo Low
hunting wild birds and wild animals in
the District of Columbia were made by the
last Congress, and under the statute which
was approved by the President on June 80
only game birds on the marshes Of the
Anacostia river north Of the Anacostia
bridge and on the marshes on the Vir-
ginia shore Of the Potomac east OF the
Aqueduct bridge may be made the unwil-
Ing recipients of sundry loads Of shot with
out special permission being secured by the
man behind the gun to stand in that posi-
ton. In other words, the game birds on
the marshes are the only exception to the
rule which specifies that no person shall
at any time or at any place in the District
Of Columbia kill, or attempt to kill, any
game bird or any other wild bird whatever,
except the English sparrow, under a pen
atty of IS or Imprisonment in the work.
house for not more than six months, or
tempt"
Others Within the Law.
Squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and other
wild animals likewise come within the pro-
lection Of the statute because prospective
hunters must first secure a special written
permit to trap catch, kill, injure, pursue or
attempt to trap, catch, kill, injure or pur-
sue shoot or hunt with a gun before
starting out for any days sport. Other
hunters who find especial delight in cunning
for the wild ducks geese and other water
fowl on the river must not now hunt pur-
sue or needlessly disturb their erstwhile
prey in any more swiftly or silently running
vessel than a rowboat, and fines and pos
sible Imprisonment await the violator of
the new law whenever he may be caught in
the act by the game warden or his assist
ants, or by the police.
M nor IF paorao$;on