The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-17

to make cases against their friends.
1t is the duty of a game warden to
acquaint the people of his territory
with the character of the laws for
the preservation Of the wild game
and fish, to see that the $40 non-res-
ident hunters license, now required
by law, is paid and to arrest and
prosecute all persons found guilty of
infractions of the game laws. War
dens work under the direction and
control of the State Audubon socie-
ty, and are required to make reports
of their activities to the Columbia
office. It is hoped that soon arrange
ments can be made to put number
of these officers on a regular salary,
but at the present their remunera-
ton consists of fees for work actual
ly accomplished, viz: $40 for each
conviction which they secure, and
$3.50 for each nonresident license
they may be the means Of collect
ing.
Although the law has been in op-
Grafton but short time, its efficien-
cy has already been demonstrated.
In addition to an immense amount
of educational work. the wardens
have found it necessary to bring
prosecutions in a number of instanc-
es. AS a result of their activities,
convictions have been secured in the
following cases.
Killing quail out of season, 4; dy-
namiting fish, l; hunting without IL
censes, 4; killing non-game birds, 2.
Eight cases are now pending in the
courts. One warden has destroyed
over 80 traps in one stream which
were illegally set for catching fish.
The dynamiting of fish has already
been stopped in many places, and
hundreds of irresponsible people
have been taught that the fish and
game protective laws must be re-
spected. On the faithfulness and ac-
tivity of these officers must depend
much of the lasting good for which
the Audubon society is working.
Many of the wardens have but re-
Gently been appointed and as yet
have not had sufficient opportunity
to show their abilities.
The secretary, James Henry Rice,
Jr., has been in the field a large part
Of the time since May l, soliciting
members for the society, selecting
wardens and performing other du-
ties of similar character. He has al
ready visited over half the counties
in the State. Mr.. Rice has however,
been forced to give his attention to
other duties than those of the socie-
ty, as his pay is not sufficient from
this source alone to maintain him.
We hope the income for the coming
year will warrant the appointment
of man to give his whole time and
attention to this work. His services
in the field have been satisfactory,
but with more funds with which to
keep him active much more of the
territory could have been covered.
He finds in his visits throughout the
State that the unanimous opinion of
the people is that the society is great
ly needed and that the game protec-
tive laws should be made more ade-
quate by amendment in a number of
instances. These changes are sug-
qested later in this report.
By direction of the national gov
ernment. the lighthouse keepers on
the coast have been instructed to
protect the sea-birds and to cooper
ate with the Audubon society. We
have had all the eighth keepers ap-
pointed game wardens, with the un-
standing that their duties as wardens
must not interfere with their duties
as light keepers. Already we have
obtained from these gentlemen much
valuable information regarding
breeding colonies, and their constant
trips from their stations to Charles
lesion, Georgetown, Beaufort, and
Savannah will enable us to prevent
many depredations on islands during
the breeding season. The United
States department of agriculture has
also furnished the society with sew
eral hundred copies of their publica-
tious of Game Laws" and the "Val-
ue of Birds to Agriculture" These
have all been distributed in the
State.
The outlook for the Audubon So
ciety work in South Carolina is very
promising. Already very substan-
tial membership has been enrolled
and this will increase as the objects
become more widely known. There
are hundreds of people in the State
who enjoy the sport of hunting or
angling; these should all be interest
ed in it work. The owners of private
game preserves, whether resident or
non-residents of the State, will
doubtless gladly cooperate with the
society, as, indeed, some of them
have already siqnifed their willing
ness of doing.
Every farmer in South Carolina
should be local friend of the So
ciety. which is laboring- to preserve
the valuable insect-eating and weed
destroying birds, by whose efforts in
field and grove his lands are enah-
led to produce their annual yiel
And then the outlook is bright he
cause the movement is a good one
and is founded on sensible principles.
In 81 States in the Union, Audubon
coc;otios ayist and ayarvwhpre thew