The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-12

To the Ed!tor OF me l!hes- nispa .Sh
ent Legislature nave read great
game laws in Virginia In tails con
nection ! want 10 say re" things
concerning this important subject. and
sho" some asong why the laws that
are passed and those asitated arc
not bcn.nc.ai to either the game or
the hanter. live IN one OF the best
hunting sections OF the state. where
game IS Is plentiful as anywhere IN
the State nave been hunter for
number OF years. and can state
few facts regarding same. Now. In
the hrst place, l Will take up the
la Is that has been passed protecting
ROBINS. and can see no reason why
this should nave been done. /, Is
claimed by the Audubon Society and
others tina, they destroy insects. ami
are song birds. and for these reasons
should not be killed Il is true tns
extent but they Iced on cedar bsF-
ries and o;aar things OF this nature
as much as they do on insects;
They coma generally in February ana
March and then are gone. with tho
exception OF few straYglers. VINO
remain through the spring and hatcn
the!r young and then are gone ms
bird is good for eating and put mere
az much FOR that purpose. In my be-
lief. as much so as any o!rd thai we
have. This bird Is enjoyed by
great many for the table. and no
D!rn mas been enjoyed more l4!dlI tHIS'
and the far-tamed robin pie is known
by all, therefore. ! see no reason Tor
the law. TIE next Is the bull bat
which we have in the summer, ana on
the same ground do the law makers
contend that they should be protected
Again. would | say that this bird may
do the same thing. namely, destroy
Insects. but do We not have the bats
with us for a very shor, dime and the
insects that they destroy do not
botner man nor beast, and IS there
fore OF no avail. Still tho hunter must
bs deprived OF this sport Of shooting
them. and also Of the bird for his table
to please those who make the laws
The next that Will comment on Is
the law that has been passed as
am Informed. making IL violation
Of same to shoot squirrels before NO
vombcr !. and viii ask. can any one
see any sense in such law? TAe
time 10 shoot squirrels is In August
and September. when they are cutting
h!ckorynuts and none. ] dare say, mas
ever hunted them in November when
the woods are bare. know OF
farmer in this section who last sum-
mer had Il great deal of trouble from
squirrels destroying his corn and had
TO shot them on this account: thus
there mas been law passed 10 pro-
tcct this game. which in some cases
has proven TO be nuisance: Then
see in your paper, issue of January
2sth, gentlsman in tho State who
would have law passed 10 prevent
State, md remarked that this bird
was almost extinct in the State. This
gentleman who has made 1t bust
ness OF capturing all of them alive
that nc could. and paying others to
do so, that he might raise them to
sell for mis- personal gain and would
deprive his hunter-friends from kill
Ing them. This bird in Virginia is
not near extinct, and there have been
for the past sehson. and arc now.
more turkeys In the state than there
have ever been. and need no more
protection than they now nave. Then
comes the most important OF all the
birds. the partridge. This bird Is
well protected. as far as the Law goes,
but. in my belief thoy could be much
better protected, and we would have
have. II all Of the counties In the
state would furnish free OF cost to
all of the farmers steel traps. and pay
for all of the hawk. mink. owl and
foxes that prey on the birds
and get all Of the people to keep their
dogs up in the spring, which destroy
birds nests and kill young rabbits,
we would have. the country fun, OF
birds. and would not need all OF this
agitation every two years regarding
game and laws for their protection.
| know of n gentleman who has put
mp poles on his farm this season and
and mas caught up to now sixteen
hawks. What ii benefit this would he
to the birds II all would do this and
get rid of the worst enemy the bird
has. The hawk is a constant hunter.
and hunts 365 days In the year. from
morn TIL night, and keeps after a
covay of birds until he gets the last
one. AS said before the counties
should pay for these scalps and IL they
do we need no more law for their pro-
lection. Then there is agitnted put
ting n tax on all hunters purposcly as
n benefit to tho state Is the hunter
not taxed sufficiently? Does he not