The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-03
THE HUNTING LAW
AND ITS RESULTS.
"Rellim'' Scouts the Idea That the
Closed Season Has Materially
Aided Game.

oNAASa
To the Editor of The Republicans:
After a cessation of two years-1906-
19O7-upon hunting rights in Garrett,
the November season of 1908 permitting
pheasant shooting under Legislative re
strictions has closed, and spectators can
look over the field, observe the casual
ties and estimate the results. The law
just tested by two years experience
may now be fairly open for discussion
pro and con. Altering conditions may
exist in different localities and what
may appear true here may be found the
opposite in other parts of the county,
but so far as a wide range Of this COM
munity shows it does not look as If the
pheasant family has utilized the two
years of care and keeping by an increase
of numbers. On the other hand we can
not recall year in which there was
such a scarcity of the birds as at the
present. Really it seems as if the de-
pleted flocks of 1905 have disdained the
advantages literally accorded them by
law, and the peace and safety made
theirs by statutory provision have, if
anything, ended in a numerical dimin-
ishment. A reason may have to be
sought elsewhere than in the humane
respite from the dog and the gun. 1t
may be man mas too closely invaded and
narrowed the covered realm of their
natural haunts and that they, like poor
Joe in Bleak House, must move on"
or die IN exhaustion at the gate. The
problem for solution is how are we to
rescue this valued gift from total OBJ
liberation. The one experiment most
conveniently in ght, to our Judgment.
is under firm enforcement of existing
law. This Act, restricting the hunting
rights to one month and raising a bar
against either selling or shipping this
bird beyond the county confines is prov
ing to be best for a reasonable respect
to the desert of the citizen and the
hope Of retaining and propagating this
splendid fowl. Unrestricted sale of
this game to meet the demand and
tempting prices from the outside means
determination close at hand. Like all
new laws this has its transgressors, but
administration gifts punitive provisions
will lessen of7anseg and compel obedi-
ence Right thinking citizens should re-
port the Gland slime practice of hunting
in advance of the season, now occurring
to a more or less extent, in so many
communities, and stop the palpable
violation known to be going on by eva
sive shipments. This is rare bird of
beauteous plumage and delicious flavor,
holding a priority right over man to an
abiding pace in the mountains and
forests Of Garrett, and man should be
Just to him in a generous application of
the Golden Rule and protect his native
rights by laws none may dare to break.
& And, Mr. Editor, a striking personal
ity passed last week from Virginians.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan, youngest son of Mr..
John Randolph Bryan foster brother
of the noted John Randolph of Roanoke,
died. When sixteen years of age he
left the University of Virginia to
espouse the Confederate cause, and
rode with Mosby, the daring raider,
through the long storms of war. After
Appomattox he resumed his place at
the University, graduated and became
a lawyer distinguished for ability in the
State, accommodating great wealth which
was literally devoted to charities and
philanthopic designs. At his burial,
in country churchyard among many
distinguished in Church and State,
were Col. Mosbv and numbers of Con-
federate camps and organization, mill
tary and civic. But the most touching
ly pathetic scene came when negroes
he had known through life. took the
body at the church and bore it to the
grave-these were Virginia negroes.
Nov. %, 1908. RELLIM.