Evening star., 1912-09-01

There are laws governing shooting in
the District which the police will en-
force While the law gives gunners
certain rights, 1t also protects the rights
of others. 1t is provided in the act
of March 3. 1899. that shooting at night or
the killing OF game with any device other
than such as are raised at arms length
and fred from the shoulder shall be
unlawful, a penalty Of IS for each bird
SO killed. and an additional penalty of
$40 for having in possession any In
strument such as so-called "pothunters"
usually use.
Section Of the act, which Is intended
to prevent the trespassing on property
along the water front, provides that any
person who shall knowingly trespass on
the lands Of another for the purpose OF
shooting or hunting thereon, after due
notice by the owner or occupant OF lands,
shall be liable to such owner OF occupant
in exemplary damages to an amount not
exceeding 800: that notice shall be given
by erecting and maintaining signboards,
at least eight by twelve inches In dimen-
sions. on the borders of the premises. and
at least two such signs for every nifty
acres; and any person who shall malici-
ously tear down or in any manner deface
or injure any Of such signboards shall be
liable to q penalty of not less than s.
for each and every signboard SO torn
down. defaced. or injured; and, in default,
to be imprisoned for q period not exceed
ing thirty days in the workhouse.
Under another section 1t is made an Of
fense to have implements for shooting
In possession Sunday. except for the pur-
pose Of transportation within or without
the District The law provides that one
half the fines under the game law are to
be paid to the informer.
T. S. Palmer and Frank L. Earnshaw
Of the biological survey. Department Of
A fr,rttr hou a. ,t,a - -p,~rv
ing when and under what conditions
shooting may be done In Maryland and
Virginia. They do not forget to give
warning that non-residents Of Maryland
privilege Of cunning and that heavy PEN
alties are imposed for violations.
Chart Shows Game Laws.
1t is shown in the chart that the Mary
land game laws provide an open season
for reedbirds and ortolan or railbirds
from September l to November q, the
only exception being on the Patuxent
river. where shooting begins September
13 but forbid any hunting on Sunday.
Reedbirds are not protected in Virginia,
but a hunter who does not reside in the
| state 10 required to possess a nonresident
| hunting license just the same, fee for
| such license being $40 Sora may be
| shot at any time of the year In vir-
ginia. and rabbits may be taken between
November and February 1. and for
these two sorts OF game no nonresident
| license is required. Sunday hunting is
| forbidden the same as in Maryland.
Each county In Maryland has its own
open and closed season. there being fire.
| quently considerable difference in the
| seasons In adjoining counties. For in
| stance, one may shoot squirrels in Mont
gomehy county between August Is and
December 16. while no open season for
squirrels exists in Prince Georges county.
| The quail season opens In Montgomery
| county November 10 and closes Decem-
ber 81, while 1t is unlawful to shoot quail
| in Prince Georges county before Novem-
ber or after December e. the season
opening one day earlier and closing a
week later than in Montgomery county.