The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-19

10 the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
ny GOES the Legislature hest
o.hinorlns for the passage of some
effective game law. They are writing
10 aneir representatives, the daily
protection from people ali over the
state. and backing them up with stronT
editorials, and yet the bills that have
oeen presented either sluinber IN com
nlttee or are reported with life-sap-
ping amendments. Nothing was done
at the last session of the Legislature,
ana me people Of the State who love
are beginning to feel that they are not
RECEIVING proper consideration.
nov and then pothunter. who
laws. is heard from. Is it possible
that these people have more influence
with the Legislature than tho sports
men men Of the state? ! must say it looks
like 1t when the House has recently
passed a bill BY almost unanimous vote
TO allow ducks to BE- shot at night In
AiduleseH and certain other counties.
tainly 70 be hoped that 1t Will be de-
feated In the Senate.
TO this tribe OF pothunter also be-
long those who object to paying one
dollar license tax. They arc out for
the meat. not for recreation and sport.
and the? want their meat free. There
are thousands of sportsmen In the State
who would gladly pay this dollar tax
to support department OF game and
II game commissioner, who would give
his entire time TO the protection and
have these officers, why not Virginia?
The sportsmen receive the benefit and
they alone viii pay tho bill.
The season on squirrels should open
with the turkey and bird season. on
November l, but under no circum-
stances earlier than October /. Many
young wild turkeys are killed by
squirrel hunters in August and Sep
tGInGer. besides other that
be moro easily approached 1T this sea-
son OF the year than later And then.
many OF the squirrels are only half
grown. and 1t is SO hot ct this season
thaS some of them spoil before tho
shooters get homo with them. Gentle
men of the Legislature. don't sacrifice
bird in tho world. In your Efforts to
please these summertime shooters.
Ali hunting while snow Is on tile
ground should be prohibited. II rab-
biu only were shot In the snow 1t
wouldn't DO SO bad. but the rabbit
hunter Gomez across a oovey OF half
starved cartridges huddled together.
and nearly tho whole, II not the whole.
covey is wiped out at one shot. don't
mean TO say that all rabbit hunters
do this, but IT Is often done. as every
Wild turkeys are also tracked and
shot During the snow last month the
partridges were In such weakened
condition In this county that many
and Data. yet every negro 10 allowed
10 tramp around In the snow with q
gun on his shoulder and shoot at
everything he sees.
would also suggest the following
improvements in our game laws: The
sale OF all game should be prohibited,
also the shipping of game TO markets.
outside of the State without providing
way 10 evade the law. II should be
illegal TO bait ducks. The summer or
WOOD duck is nearing extinction, and
should be protected for Il term of years
or should be shot in September only.
They are not grown IN August. The
deer season should open on October |
and close on January 1. The present
season, from September l to December
1, is very unsatisfactory. II possible,
oil local laws should be done away
with and uniform law enacted for
tho whole state. Local laws are con.
f,lsins and 1t is often hard to tell
lust What the law is in certain To-
The people who love the country and
who love to hunt, not as the pot,
hunter hunteth. but for recreation ana
snort and some game for the SHOW
down" are asking their representatives.
for game legislation that Will put
Virginia with the vanguard OF game
projecting States. They are waiting
patiently, no, impatiently now, for
they havo waited long; ,,,,
r,.,,..o,.,, YIN