The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-03
Save The Game.

To the Editor Of The Times-Dispatch:
Sir,.EI thank you for yonr timely
robins for market in tho Southern
states. Weak game laws are
America a birdlcss land. Our game is
rap;diT disappearing.
We have reached 4 point i'll the con-
Scrration Of the wild life Of our coin-
,ry wherein we must either adopt 81
inc OF stern measures for its prcscry-
alton or else face the certainty OF
turning over TO postority a few years
ncncc a Samclcss continent.
since COOPER Set the fashion in nc-
aian has been our one national type
that all tho world recognizes at 4
glance as truly American. ana ever
shores the wild turkey has been an
other type. and will hold his proud
iltlc as the chief game bird Of tile
Virginia forests. He should have been
the national emblem instead Of The
oaglc; for the Down East Yankee, The
o!d-fashioncd Southern gentleman ana
the plantation darky boast no sucn
noble and ancient distinction.
II ms portion Of virginia The wild
coming down from Washington for
ten years to the counties of Prince
lyli.iam, Guipeper. Orange. spots$l-,
each season ] have watched the aw-
fnl power and general destructivcness
OF the forces that are warning upon
tOuI most interesting W1iU FL ne. I'Ot-
hunters have killed enormous mum
hcis for the market. The sale OF game
Is responsible for about so per cent.
Of the annual slaughter Of game birds.
Bul the condition first In Importance
Is the breaking up OF the nests and
The wholesale obstruction Of eggs by
dogs and people straying through the
arc a few professional n~est-huntcrs
who kill the turkey hon and rob the
nest.
1,Eo N;,r;n;. no,, ~
grossly negligent in not prohibiting
the sale Of the wild turkey when the
partridge. the pheasant and W%oodcocl
were protected by Il Law enacted. Cam
not the game law DO amended so ar 10
restrict the invasion of the fields and
forests by worthless dogs and their
season? G I knew ' Of $50 Wild ' turkoy
eggs destroyed last season by these
miscreants in n single county, and
there were. OF least these many pill
fcrcd in this same county thai / didn't
hear of, and doubtless as many in the
other four counties above mentioned.
] learn that this condition is not con-
fuel TO this section. but obtains In
every part of the state. a third fatal
condition is the shooting OF wild tur-
KEYS out Of seaSon.
in the prompt passage OF laws which,
will suppress the evils enumerated
above.
AS 1t will he too late for the General
Assembly. which meets in 1912. TO save
the game. it will bc necessary for the
press Of the state and those persons
Interested In the preservation of the
turkey to unite against the pot-liunt-
crs. commission men and these dogs
that hunt-ont Of season and despoil
instances. dodge the dog tax.
Already eight species Of birds have
become extinct in our W times. and
among other species that are threat
encd with early. extinction are the
wild turkey. pheasant. golden plovcr,
wood duck. pinnatcd grouse. etc.
Let the newspapers OF Virginia take
ftllis matter UP and insist III the pco-
| pie claiming their dogs for tho next
| three months. as it Is, declared by the
! most conservative Sportsmcn OF this
! section that three turkey hens oit OF
every four have their eggs destroyed
| ana arc barren Of any brood.
.JUNIUS W. I'OWIlKES.
PamunkcY. Va. April !.