Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
MAY FOLLOW THE
LEAD Of ILLINOIS
Shooting License Law Propos-
ed for the State of Penn
syIvama.
By James Watson.

= A close partnership exists between the
man who owns dog and the man who
shoots. for 1t is probable that nearly one
half of the dogs owned in this country
are to be Included under the elastic title
Of bird dogs. 1t Is no criterion to point to
the shows or the stud books and give fig
ures to prove the contrary, for nine-tenths
Of the owners of the plain but useful
bird dog" have little use for registration
and probably would find it hard work to
get sufficient data for the purpose Of regis
tering his dog. even If willing to spend his
dollar therefor. What he is interested in
Is getting opportunities to use his dog and
gun to advantage, and all such undoubtedly
hail with satisfaction any attempt to control
shooting within fair and reasonable re-
strictions and foster the protection of game
1t is not improbable that the publicity
given to the grand showing Of game pro-
lection under the shooting license law of
Illinois is doing more to advance the in
terests Of men who shoot than anything
which has taken place in this direction.
Illinois, by means of it's shooting license
which falls heaviest the visitors from
other states and tapers off until farmers
and their sons may shoot without license
on their own lands, has got so much money
in the game fund treasury that the game
warden has to evolve means of spending
1t to the best advantage and has gone into
the breeding and rearing of game birds on
a large farm which has been secured for
the purpose and from which birds will be
distributed throughout the state. 1t is I'M
derstood that this idea of rearing and dis
tributing will be carried on in other parts
Of the state as well. At one time it was
feared that the farmers of Illinois would
oppose the bill and cause it's defeat but so
much has public opinion changed, now that
the good effect of the law has been proved
that they are the stanchest supporters of
the good work.
Pennsylvania now proposes to have a
game law, but it goes little further than
the code of Illinois In that it is likely to
call for license from all who shoot farm
ers as well as others. The fee is so low
that 1t should hardly create any opposition
and as the law will give the land oc-
cupier far more control over those who
want to trespass on his property it will be
a dollar well spent. One radical proposition
Is to prohibit boys under fourteen years of
age from carrying or using guns. Over that
age and up to twenty-one the young man
may shoot over his own--or his parents
lands without license. but every person
other than this restricted number will have
to pay a fee of 81.
This bin has the appearance of being
offered in this shape so as not to cause
opposition sufficient to wreck its progress.
But it is not at all unlikely that a higher
license for foreigners would add very much
to its vote-catching powers. If any state
goes 10 Lie expense ana trouDie OF pur-
chasing, rearing and distributing game birds
there Is every reason why those who are
not taXpaying citizens of the state should
contribute more for the privilege of shoot
ing than residents.
New Jersey is also likely to get into line
as a gun-license state, the game commits
sion having recommended such a step in its
annual report. The proposed license applies
to residents and non-residents alike and
is good for all kinds of game. Previous to
last spring breeding season the New Jersey
Game and Fish Commission liberated Z. 40
quail, and this with remarkably small
loss while in transit and before liberation.
the mortality being less than 3 per cent
With the larger income from gun licenses
these game commissions become more than
self-supporting and have ample funds to
devote to protection and prosecution of Of
tenders.