The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-13
THE PHEASANT LAW.
A Correspondent Thinks Its Provisions
Are Wise and Should Be Kept Intact.

To the Editor of The Republican:
Well, the political campaign IN Gar
rett has been fought, the last gun has
been fired and the trenchant blades of
our terrible warriors are hanging HARM
lessly in the halls of peace.
In the hull of the storm an opportune
moment may be employed to consider
affairs that have survived the battle.
An old resident of Garrett, fat-footed
in manner of speech, was heard to re-
mark: ''When a representative in the
Legislature begins to make laws for
birds | think but little of him " Such
is commonly known as peanut legisla-
ton" Since that sage remark there
has been such confusion of enactments
and repeats involving all generations
of birds that we begin to feel anxious
for Moses to lead us from the wider
ness of years of wonderings to the Dor
ders of a promised land
Maryland's assembled wisdom Will
soon be focused on many problems but,
We trust, on none more hurtful than
birds" Seriously, our people might
do well in giving a full and clear express
sion of belief as to a game law desired
for Garrett, and in that way trace
through the wilderness of many tamper-
ings the path to be followed-so make
known the popular will that it may be
woven into popular law.
Paying rather more than an ordinary
notice last fall to the public wish IN the
nature of pheasant law, | found al
most as many opinions as there were ex-
/ pressions regarding a measure desira-.
bic for adoption, and little if any con-,
currence of thought in any section.
My conclusion is the law in this particu-
lar as it stands today should not be dis
turbed; and that, if fairly enforced,
will as fully preserve the pheasant and
respect the reasonable privilege of the
resident as any scheme likely to be
framed, giving the pheasant eleven
months of protected homes and propoga-
ton, and the resident one shooting
month for either table luxury or sale
in the county. The method seems to be
sanctioned by sound reason and verified
by experience.
The pot-hunting class, desiring an I'M
restricted capture and barter of the
bird as a chattel in the market at an ex-
horbitant price, would rather sacrifice
the whole breed in a single season than
miss the high premium from the out
side bidders, q premium so excessive as
to raise tireless army of trappers and
| hunters IN battle of determination. A
better judgment looking to the limited
right of the resident and a surer preser-
walton of this Incompatible game should
prevail.
The pheasant is a superb bird and an
aboriginal settler here long in advance
OF the first clatter of the white mans
axe in these mountain wilds. He does
not prey upon the seedman's crops and
/ seeks those haunts less visited by the
| footsteps of men. No one can behold
his strut nor watch his flight and resist
the charm his beauty inspires. Let US
| be generous to him and considerate to
ourselves by literally awarding him that
protection the strong can confer upon
the weak and not often found in pea
nut Legislation.
Existing laws equal the need and our
officials should see that its infractions
are followed bp its penalties.
RELLIM.