Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-18
GET GUNS READY, BUT
Sylvester Will Catch You If
You Don't Watch Out.
BIRD SEASON NEARLY ON
Police Will Be Vigilant in Enforcing
the Laws.
sNAGs IN EASTERN BRANCH
Boatmen Would Better Be Careful on
Their Way to the Haunts of
the Birds.
MACS IN EASTERN BRANCH

Two weeks from tomorrow the fall gun
ners will be out in full force, and Maj Syl
vester Will have number of policemen de-
tailed to see to the protection of life and
property. There is nothing that the police
can do that will prevent cunning accidents
on the marshes. but they intend to enforce
the provisions of the law in a manner that
will give an extra amount of protection to
property. One section of the game law
makes provision for the protection of prop
erty along the river front near the marshes,
as we'll as property away from the river.
This section says that. any person who
shall knowingly trespass on the lands Of
another for the purpose of shooting or
hunting thereon, after due notice by the
owner or occupant of lands, shall be liable
to such owner occupant in exemplary
damages to an amount net exceeding 500;
that notice shall be given by erecting and
maintaining signboards, at least eight by
twelve inches in dimensions, on the borders
OF the premises, and at least two such signs
for every fifty acres; and any person who
shall maiciously tear down or in any man.
ner deface inIure any of such sign
boards shall be liable to a penalty of not
less than So for each and every signboard
torn down. defaced or injured; and in
default to be imprisoned for a period not
exceeding thirty days in the workhouse."
AoAASC " DC SlSAldAI.
1t is the intention of the police to strictly
enforce the provisions of this section, and
also to enforce the law which provides a
penalty for discharging firearms near
dwellings. car lines and public roads The
enforcement of this section will prevent
gunners from discharging their guns along
the Benning road and endangering the lives
or drivers, pedestrians and patrons Of the
street-car lines. 1t is realized by the police
that the enforcement of this provision of
law may prevent some of the bows and
those who want to do their cunning with
out going In boats or wading the marsh
from having sport, but the protection of
life is regarded being of vastly more
Importance than a little sport to a few
gunners.
While the law will permit the killing Of
grouse. snipe, plover and woodcock on and
after September l. 1t Is reasonably GER
tain that those who go out to try their
luck the opening day Of the season will
pay attention only to the reedbirds, ortolan
and blackbirds. 1t Is expected that there
Will be gunners enough out the first day to
cause a wholesale slaughter Of the birds
The provision of law referring to the birds
that are to be found upon the marshes pro-
vides:
THAT no person shall kill, expose for
sale, or have in his or her possession, either
dead or alive, any water rail or ortolan
reedbird or rice bird, or marsh blackbird
between the first day of February and the
first day of September, under a penalty Of
81 for each water rail or Ortolan, reedbird
or rice bird, or marsh blaCkbrd, killed
posed for sale. or had in his or her possess
sion, either dead or alive, and In default
thereof to be imprisoned in the workhouse
for period not less than fifteen days nor
more than six months"
Looking Fields Over.
Sportsmen who enjoy marsh shooting
have already visited the marshes and noted
IA
They report that the oats are in splendid
condition this year. They are much heavier
than usual, and trouble is likely to be ex-
perienced by the earlier gunners In push
ing their boats to places where they will eX-
pect to find the greatest number Of birds.
Some of the men who have been over the
marshes during the past week say that
many of the smaller channels have filled
considerably since last year, and they are
overgrown with oats. The oats are ripe
enough to attract the birds, blackbirds hav-
ing already appeared in large numbers.
Some ortolan are also on the marshes but
no reedbirds have yet appeared. They
usually come later than the blackbrds and
The blackbirds on the marshes are said
to be in splendid condition. but the ortolan
are not yet fat nor are they likely to be in
good condition until some time after the
opening of the season.
While the gunners are getting their guns
and ammunition in readiness for the open
ing of the season, the boatmen are also
making ready to accommodate them. 1t
is said that the boatmen about the water
front will not have boats enough to &C
commodate all the gunners. and the more
enthusiastic sportsmen are already engag
ing boats and pushers. Under the pro-
visions of the last amendment to the game
law. gunners are permitted to shoot only
upon the ma shes north of the Anacostia
river and those along the Virginia shore
east of the AqueduCt bridge.
Look Out for Snags.
Gunners who make an early start for the
marshes of the Anacostia river or Eastern
branch, 1t is more Familiarity known
VOL do well to be careful while passing
directly east of the Navy Yard bridge
There are many old piles IN the river near
the bridge, and they make 1t somewhat
dangerous to boatmen passing up the river
At high tide the ends of the piles are COW
cred with water, making il impossible for
bOatmen to see them. while at low tide they
project from the water some distance. Only
a few days ago a gasoline launch struck
against the old piles and came near over
turning. The launch dipped water but
those who were aboard the craft managed
to prevent serious damage being done.
1t Is the intention OF persons interested
in boating to ask the proper government
officials to remove the dangerous obstruc-
lions. A petition Is being prepared for
tina; purpose, and the Secretary of War will
be asked to have the distractions removed
os " 40