The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-02-03

there was more or less shooting
| these birds on the part of the usual
small boy, generally about the age
= to IA, who was not as a rule aware
that the law prohibited his shooting
them. l published notices in the two
daily papers concerning this matter
and after warning them all and
threatening arrest in several cases
! the matter was effectually stopped. l
followed this course on the idea that
the law being new we would not per-
secute rather than prosecute and
thereby bring the act into disfavor
among the people, and particularly so
as stated. for the reason that the par
ties violating this act were not suf-
ficiently familiar with the provisions
of the law. In the same manner when
the time for the yearly flight of mi
gratory duck came, it was discovered
that under a technical construction of
the law it was illegal to kill any spe-
| cia of duck except our native summer
duck, and then only from Decemna
AoI W y cilludIy lou IL nv DCihSo LIN
purpose of the law, however, to pro-
tect migratory duck, | instructed by
notice to all parties concerned that
they might hunt them. Again it was
found that no provision was made for
our marsh hen IN the law, it no, b.
| ing mentir:.Cd as a game bird or eX
cepted, hence illegal to shoot them.
AS | knew this was also for the pur
pose or intent of the law l took the
matter up with the State Game Com
missioner, who gave his permission to
allow these birds to be hunted pend
ing the necessary amendments in the
law.
The new act is defective in good
many respects in this way, particu-
iarly as regards our seacoast districts
and it is the consensus of opinion
among the hunters and sportsmen
generally that the necessary changes
should be made and a recommends
ton from your body would carry con-
siderable weight when we desire to
put these matters before the next leg
islature.
Our marsh-hens should certainly
be mentioned in the law and some
provision made for their protection,
for as the matter now stands, they
could be killed at any time. A fair
omen season on them would be from
September to March -, with a bag
limit of forty (4O) birds per gun.
II "Snipe, migratory duck, woodcocE,
!, obG the several varieties Of shore
Birds, or plover, considered game birds
in his section, should also be men
toned with an open season of say
from. November I to February %. In
the case of the woodcock for instance
the present law provides that they
may be shot from December TO jan
uary /, or only one-month season
They are one Of the Pamcst Of game
birds, but are rarely seen here until
after January 1st, following an mus
uaI cold spell, as we had recently,
and migrate as you know from the
extreme north Of the united states
and Canada. Georgia laws should not
give them unreasonable protection
when they may be shot at any time in
the states north ana south Of us.
"The license matter should have {
radical change H. that one should no
be Flowed to hunt in his own mill
tia district, as the present raw pro
tides, without a license. This ma!
suit in some portions Of the state
particularly in the counties where
there are lar2or cities, but in this sec
ton Of the state, and particularly il
this county, It would be better If thi
were not the caeo and would tend +
further protect our diminishing gam