The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-01
Sporting Editor. Times Dispatch. Rich
rnond. Va.

Sporting Editor, Times Dispatch. Rich
mond, Va:
Dear Sir.-Reports from the dfneren'
parts OF Virginia coming In inoica'e
a short quaIl crop. Some OF the couh-
ties through their boards OF super
ytsors are closing re season on ali
brnttne December and It is hoped
that by January l the season On guam
hunting will have been closed In all
OF the counties IN the State.
great many OF the hunters VINO
have not been In the game neAos. nav
ing arranged their hunting trips Tor
december. are using their influence 10
keen the game season open. Claiming
tn on account of the extremely arc
weather that the quail have remaiheu
in the dense swamps and thickets' anu
have not come out into the nelos AZ
they would do IL we experienced
considerable rainfall In Eastern Vir-
GINA and that to close the season oe-
fore January 1 would be q hardship
upon an army OF men who have no1
been able TO, on account of their oasi-
ness. do any hurting this season, ana
who have arranged their hunting
trims for tho month Of December
II is a mooted question whether these
gentleuen are correct in their nIpo
thesis. and though they might be cor
rect in their belief that the quail are
stIl in the swamps and thickets as
the reason of so few being found py
those who have already been hunting
this is at best q conjecture, and the
experienced quail hunters with whom
| have talked. and who nave ALREADY
cone considerable hunting. &c OF the
opinion that IL the quail We're pient'-
fuI this fact would be EVIDENCED pJ
finding their roost. In the aelos' fof
these birds habitusliy use the open
fields for their roosting places, though
during the day they may conceal them
selves in the swan2s and ;hickets.
have Just had Q talk with q travel
ing salesman OF sporting goocs
wholesale house OF Richmond. who mas
recently made Q trip Though North
Carolina. and he tells me that the
same conditions (scarcity OF quail
obtain thare. North Carolina being
much further South than virginia. dio
not experience as severe winter weatn-
e. as we did lsst January and req
ruary, and the theory advanced oy
some IN this State thai our bros per
ished by the severe winter weather In
virginia in large numbers as the cause
q
measure Offset Another theory which
has been advanced that the shortage
was caused BIZ the extremely dry ana
hot weather during the breeding sea-
son, curtailiDS insect life. on which
the young quail live. many OF the wa
ter courses cried up. with extremely
light dews causing the death OF the
younx Qusil from starvation. and the
lack of water 10 certainly the most
applausible Be this a. II may. the iaot
remains that there II scarcity OF
quail. ana Vigorous nnethoos snos.a1
be InAuGur,sed throughout virginia TO
protect the birds we now have Tor
next years breeding purposes
IL ia hoped that Tire county boards
of supervisors In closing the season
on quail will also close the season
on Al, shooting. for ~ other hunting
A. sllovoc thousands of quail VIII be
kflred throughout TIE State Illegally
sportsrnsn should bear In mind the
fact that We cernot eat our Loaf and
nave IL too. and ~ We expect TO have
ar.y decent quail shooting next year
we ought TO be willing TO forcso that
pleasure this season. wnen the quail
are 30 scarce.
W. ought to reraon5er that when We
..k-s for tho law on the nonsale OF
r.ne We obtained this law because We
we're able to show thst tAe Dot hunt
- and game hos. who hunted Tor tne
markets. gave no thought 10 tne time
which Vas quickly coming when al
the game woubt be cxtcrmiaatcd a
res the interest shown - the sports
men to prevent tho determination o.
our game which enabled IS to have
enacted the game ia~ we already have.
and vs would be Inconsistent ~ We
did not iend our incuence and aid IN
ev-y way We can &c the novemert
On foot to close the o2ea season Tor
Decemb~r anE January throughout
Eastern virginia Should We again
experience q sever. winter season y