New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-03
Lawmakers Had Busy Year
Regulating The Sport and
Providing Against Ex-
tinction of Wild Life.

~HE 1911 hunting season has Just be-
gun in earnest. and as the hunter
a follows the tracks Of big game so
the Game Laws for 1911" the twelfth an
uual bulletin got out by the Department
q Agriculture al Washington, follows close
t,pon the heels OF the opening Of the sea-
son And this seasons summary Of game
data Is almost as full Of interesting facts
as the territory which il covers is full Of
same.
OF the ninety million Of people in this
country il is estimated that approximately
five millions. or more than per cent. are
hunters. Thus, when the hunting season
approaches there is vast army waiting
for the first summons 70 the field. In New
York State alone one-ninth Of the total
population are hunters. for there one mil
lion people annually take up their guns
and traps and indulge in their favorite
sport about this time of the year
Whatever place same has held in national
affairs before. this wear at least, il has
come into general popularity. In practi-
cally every state in the Union in which a
session OF the Legislature has been held
the matter Of game laws has been agitated
with varied success and heat. And even IN
those states where nothing was done the
subject was. nevertheless, an absorbing
one. Altogether. more than two hundred
and fifty new laws have been passed dur
ing the last year-considerably more than
ever before.
Game protection in New York State is
row under the jurisdiction OF the new Con-
sc~vauon Commission. composed Of three
members. each Of whom receives $1,000
year such a salary places them almost on
an equality with the members Of the United
states Supreme Court, not 70 mention
first place among such other commissions
as exist throughout the country Then
100. the Bayne bill goes into effect this sea-
son. This prohibits the sale OF Wild game
with the exception Of rabbits. in New York
some foreign game and that raised IN cap
ti.-ty. however. are also exempt IN the bill
Aside from New York the most notable
organizations of the game systems took
-,ace IN North Dakota. Oregon and Wyo-
ming. while nine other states increased
their warden systems. oregon has here
tofore had her game and forestry protec-
lion under one head. but under the new
provision a fish and game board. consist
ing Of Eve members. has charge OF the
rame work. Wyoming now has no single
game officer. but the protection Of her
zane is placed under the charge Of the
Governor u the state the Secretary or
state and the state Auditor, who are over
the zane warden. In North Dakota the
hoard Of control has been reduced from
FIVE 70 three members. and the salary OF
each increased from g 10 s. a day.
california. TOO. took an important step in
came work That state is now divided into
civ fish and game districts. for each Of
vr-t,n separate game seasons are provided.
--is became necessary on account OF the
,.--.ed climatic conditions there, under
which r. was almost impossible 70 hunt al
che same time in all parts Of the state
The creation Of state game preserves, TOO
&c q feature ~ this years work. Montana
North Dakota. Idaho and Washington have
all established such preserves. with Mon
tana leading the list. with three; North
Dakota coming next. with Two. and the last
TWO states with one each.
II IS interesting 70 note also that al
though no legislative measures We're taken
in Louisiana. as there was no session OF
the legislature during the last year TWO
individuals gave the state a 24ooo-acre wild
fowl preserve iu NermilNon Parish. In
Massachusetts and Oregon, while no pre-
serves have been established, arrangements
FOR the creation OF such have been provided
without the necessity OF future legislation.
Massachusetts. New Jersey, Indiana and
wyoming have adopted measures looking
toward the propagation Of game as
means Of increasing the supply. while the
possession and disposal Of game reared in
private preserves. under suitable regua
tons were recognized by legislation in
california. Maine, Massachusetts. Michi-
gan Missouri. New Jersey and Wisconsin.
North Carolina came into the limeHght by
cutting of the privilege heretofore granted
Of allowing the expectation Of live quail
sor restocking PURPOSES