The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-15

or this KIM.
This regulation simply makes uni
form the protection now accorded
| these birds in more than forty states
1t protects the robin. the lark and 9th
er birds in the few states in which
they suffer from an open season. 1t
attempts no change in existing regula-
tions regarding the issue of permits
for collecting birds for scientific pur-
poses.
Gives Greater Protection.
A closed season for several years Is
| provided in an effort to harmonize the
absolute protection already given some
birds in certain states, the demand for
| five year closed seasons for shore birds
and the necessity for greater protec-
ton for other birds which have been
hunted beyond the margin of safety.
| The protection accorded woodcock and
rail is already existing law; that on
swans has been made uniform through
out all the states and that of wood
cock extended from a few states in
the northeast to most of the states in
zone No. 1. east of the Mississippi riv-
er. The only important additions are
the additional protection given band
tailed pigeons in a few states and the
closed season placed on avocets, cranes,
curlew, godwits, killdeer, stilts, upland
plover, willet and the smaller shore
birds.
The suspension for hunting on the
Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers
allows waterfowl safe highway from
their winter feeding grounds in the
lower Mississippi valley to their nest
ing grounds in Minnesota and the Da-
kotas and forms an extended refuge
which is easily defined and can be gen
orally recognized.
Only Two Zones.
More than fifty separate seasons for
migratory birds were provided under
statutes In force In 1912. This multi
plicity of regulations or zones to suit
special localities has apparently had
anything but beneficial effect on the
abundance of game. The effort to pro-
vide special seasons for each kind of
game in each locality merely makes a
chain of open seasons for migratory
birds and allows the continued destruc-
ton Of such birds from the beginning
Of the first season to the close Of the
last. 1t Is believed that better results
will follow the adoption Of the fewest
possible number of zones and so regu-
lating the seasons in each as to include
the time when such species Is In the
best condition or at the maximum Of
abundance during the autumn.
For this reason the country has been
divided into two zones as nearly equal
as possible, one to include the states
in which migratory game birds breed
or would breed If given reasonable pre-
lection, the other the states in which
comparatively few species breed, but
In which many winter. Within these
zones the seasons are fixed for the
principal natural groups-waterfowls
rail, shore birds and woodcock. In no
case does the zone boundary cross a
cases the seasons are uniform through
out the states. Deviation from this
rule leads ultimately to the recognition
Of a multiplicity Of local seasons,
which had done so much to retard game
protection.
Seasons In Zone.
Apparently few changes have been
made in existing hunting seasons In
zone No. except in the elimination Of
spring shooting, and about half Of the
states In this zone now close the sea-
son on water fowl by the middle Of
December or the first of January. In
most states in this zone the hunting
season begins on some date In Septem-
Der, and these dates have generally
been followed in the regulations. In
two or three cases in which states
have several different seasons for diff
ferent counties 1t has been necessary
to effect compromise either by adopt
ing one season or the dates which most
nearly conform with the seasons in
adjoining states. A slight change in a
few of the state laws would make it
possible to eliminate most of the eX.
ceptions and apparent inequalities in
the seasons.
In most cases the close seasons in
zone No. end on the same dates as
the seasons under the state laws, but
eliminate spring shooting after Jan
10. This avoids confusion in the open.
ing Of the hunting season and pro
vides shooting in the autumn or early
winter, when the birds are in the best
condition. In four states-Maryland
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina-the seasons for water fowl
do not open until Nov. 1, and the sea.
son is consequently extended to Feb j
The difference of fifteen days in the
length of the season in these states as
compared with the seasons elsewhere
is more than offset by the fact that the
birds are present practically through
out the open season, whereas in the
northern zone and in some states in
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