Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-02
TO PROTECT THE BIRDS.

TO PROTECT THE BIRDS.
Arrests Made In Union County on Ae-
Count Of Blue Cranes.
The killing of several blue cranes in
this county, though far from being in
tended as a violation Of the state law
on the part of the persons doing so,
has today resulted in several warrants
being Unexpectedly sworn out by Mr..
James Henry Rice, Jr., Of the South
Carolina Audubon society, an organi-
zation which was incorporated by the
legislature last year for the protection
and propagation Of all game, song
birds and those whose presence is
really not harmful.
The warrants were sworn out on in
struction Of the president Of the Au-
dubon society. Mr. B. F. Taylor, and
are for William Kershaw, a negro
who lives on Mr.. Lem Keesler's place
south Of Union, and who killed blue
crane several weeks ago; and also for
Mr.. George C. May, in whose posses
sion, it Is alleged, another blue crane
or heron has been found.
1t is understood that neither of
these parties knew that the acts were
in violation Of the law, as indeed few,
or anyone else in Union realizes 1t,
as the statute was enacted in 1905 and
last year and is known to but few per-
sons, though it carries with 1t a fineof
SO or thirty days. The case will proba-
bly, come up before Magistrate Vim
son at an early date.
Secretary James Henry Rice, Jr.,
In an interview today on the subject
Of game, and what the Audubon So
ciety proposes doing in this state,
gives out valuable information, the
careful observation Of which will not
only preserve and increase game birds
In this state, but probably save many
persons from inconvenience and an
noyance following unintentional vio-
lations of the law.
Mr.. Rice says:
1.-The Audubon society for the pro-
lection of birds Is organized In thirty
eight states Of the union, there being
but slight difference in the various
laws In North Carolina out-of-state
hunters are required to pay an annual
$40 license, and from this source, af-
ter paying all expenses $4,000 was
turned back to the treasury for edu-
cational work. In the state Of ILL.,
nois the amount was $4,000.
"The department of agriculture In
investigating the boil weevil situation
In Texas said that II hunters would
leave the birds alone, that they would
free the state Of the boil weevil and
other injurious insects, and Texas is
buying kildees and kildee eggs for
this purpose.
1.-The law in this state applies to
every bird in the state except par
tridges and other birds which can be
killed at certain seasons, and also
such as are harmful as the hawk, owl,
crow, English sparrow, and a few
others. The shooting Of a cat bird,
mocking bird or any others not dis
tinctly excepted in the statute will be
sufficient grounds for prosecution.
1T may be noted in passing that
all officers Of the Audubon society are
state officials, and are duly commits
stoned by the governor, with the ex-
ception Of the secretary, and 1t Is the
purpose of the society to place game
wardens in every county, paying them
salary for their time to be devoted
to the work Of the society, as soon as
1t has sufficient funds, which 1t Is
thought will be this fall. 1t Is be-
lieved that $4,000 can be collected
from the license of hunters.
But this society does not only have
the protection of birds and animals,
said Mr.. Rice, "but over the fish In all
of the rivers, and broadly speaking IL
is against the laws of South Carolina
to catch a fish in any way in this state
between April 1st and November lst,
except with hook and line. The fine
for violating this law is $25 for each
offense.
LAS to dynamite fishing" he said,
this is a very serious offense carrying
with it a fine of 800 or a year In the
state penitentiary, or both, at the dis
cretion Of the presiding judge. An
other thing about dynamite is that
there is a state law requiring each
dealer selling dynamite to sell 1t only
on written request, and make quar-
terly report to the county officials,
giving amount of sales and accompa-
nying the report with these signed re-
quests, and failure to do this Will
hereafter be the grounds of prosecut-
ing the person offending, to the fuil
extent of the law In this way 1t Is
expected to keep close track OF every
one engaged in dynamite fishing. TEL
ephone orders are taken by dealers
at personal risk.
I'm singing out Union county, II
was done on special request or no one
living here, and only because 1t Is
really thought that examples nave 10
be made somewhere. e."-Union Prog
ress.
WANTED TO GET INTO PRIsoN.-Felix
Gonzales of Socorro, sentenced to a