The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-08

When Columbus landed in 1892 the sec
ton OF the continent of North America
now embraced in the United States was
one of the greatest game preserves in the
world. The Indians loved the chase, but
rarely destroyed game wantoniy. One
reason for this was that the primitive
methods Of the savage in taking game
made it more difficult for him to be q
game hog than it is for the modern
American. with his repeating rife, his
pump gun" his dogs his decoys, and
his other equipment. Another reason was
that the Indian meat came from the
forests and plains and he did not care to
destroy his source of supply Had the
Indians remained in possession Of the
country there would have been as many
deer and bufaloes in America to-day
as there were four centuries ago. The
rapid decrease in game throughout the
United States after the settlement Of the
country by white men was not due alto
gether to density Of popuiation. but to
the general belief that the supply was in
eXhaustible.
From 1892 until 1852. when the Maine
legislature created the Office of moose
warden. very little was done in this
country 10 protect game, and the move
ment to prevent the determination OF our
wild animals. FISH. and birds has only
become general within the last few years
At present thirty-six States and Terri
tories intrust the enforcement of their
game laws to State boards. wardens, or
other specially constituted authorities.
and active efforts are being made TO edu-
cate the people to an understanding Of
the Importance OF refraining from shoot
ing out Of season and otherwise violating
game laws that do not work a hardship
upon any true sportsman or upon any
man who seeks food with his rod and
gun. Every State which has undertaken
10 enact and enforce useful game laws
has met with opposition from certain
element. There are always land owners
who resent any legislative interference
with what they consider their inalienable
right TO shoot game in or out of season
upon their own land. but gradually the
prejudices of such citizens are being over
come, and the prospect is for a decided
increase in the supply Of game within the
next decade
The duties Of game wardenS, under some
OF the State laws. are by no means sim
pie or devoid of hardships During the
open season the warden is expected 10 de-
vote great deal of his. time TO prevent
ing the illegal shipment of game He
must often exercise his ingenuity in dis
covering whether restaurants and hotels
are selling quail as "snowbirds'' or young
owls and whether venison is being
served under some other name Killing
dogs is another unpleasant duty Of the
game warden in States which prohibit
the bounding of deer. and no one who has
not had occasion TO bring about the death
OF neighbours dog knows just what sort
OF feeling can De stirred up by this sort
OF activity. A few months after the law
prohibiting hunting deer with dogs went
into effect in Pennsylvania. the secretary
of the game commission estimated that
fully l5,eo0 dogs had been killed in en-
forcing IL In many States there are laws
requiring the destruction of traps and de-
vices used to capture game and in a few
the confiscation Of guns used in violation
of the law is required.
In the East much trouble has arisen
from the killing OF game and ornamental
birds and all varieties Of animals by i'm
migrants. who cannot be persuaded that
the game laws are meant seriously, and
who not only resent attempts TO enforce
them, but in many instances resort TO the
use OF arms TO register their protests In
the mountainous sections of the States in
the Appalachian region is also some
what difficult and dangerous to make ar
rests for violations Of the game laws
The mountaineer regards the game war
den and the ''revenuer' in the same light
IN his opinion, both are bent upon In
fringing upon his rights. and he is not
slow 10 resent such interference. The
record Of fatalities incident 10 the prose
cutiOn of the duties Of warden shows that
the game warden's occupation is more
hazardous than that Of a soldier. Sew
eral deputies and other officials have been
killed, and others have only saved them
selves from a similar fate by GOODNESS and
ability to get the drop" on the other
fellow
During a recent session of the Kentucky
legislature much opposition TO rigid game
laws under consideration was manifested
y by representatives, from the extreme east
and vest ends OF the State. one Of these
sections being the home Of the noun
f1incar and the other . forming country
A mountain representative, who had
never lndde a speech, rose and said thar
he was no orator, bat that he would ask
indulgence while he protested. as friend
of the poor against a provision OF the
law prohibiting trapping. The boys in
the mountains he maintained, had a
right 70 trap partridges and sell them for
money with which 10 buy school books
4 minister WHO reuresentad q iOwland