Evening journal., 1913-07-01
HOW GAME IS
BEING PROTECTED
New Regulations Are Issued
by Department Of AGri-
Culture--- Closed Season

New regulations governing the sea-
sons for shooting migratory birds.
thorized under the recently-enacted
Weeks-McLean Migratory Bird low,
have just been issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Bureau of Biological Survey. and
constitute beyond a doubt the most
sweeping action in the countrys his
tory toward the protection of wild
bird life. These new regulations, of
course. take absolute precedence over
all existing statutes i'm the several
states with which they come in con-
hict The new regulations. which
are effective on October 1. 1913, are
summarized as follows
Generally speaking. tho country is
divided into two zones, northern and
southern, the dividing line running
wholly or In part north Of latitude 20
degrees and the Ohio river
The 25 States included in the north
ern zone comprise Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont Massachusetts,. Rhode
Island, Connecticut. New York, New
Jersey. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana.
Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin. Mime
sofa, Iowa. North Dakota, South IA
kota. Nebraska. Colorado. Wyoming.
Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Wash
ington.
The % States included in the south
ern zone are Delaware. MARYLAND.
District of Columbia. Virginia. West
Virginia, North and South Carolina.
Georgia, Florida. Alabama, Mississ-
ippi, Tennessee kentucky. Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Okla
mona, Kansas, New Mexico. Arizona
california, Nevada and Utah.
The shooting season fixed for these
TWO zones varies according TO the
four classihcations of migratory
birds that have bcen made. as viii
be seen later The zones thus estab-
lished take the place of 80 similar
districts now existing under the
statutes of the several States.
BY way of summarization the fol-
lowing statements may be made:
/. Exceptions have been made IN
both zones for numerous reasons but
in most cases the closed season, but
take .he average Of the existing laws
OF the States in the particular zones
in which they are located.
2. There has been more cutting
down on the closing than the opening
dates of the shooting seasons as they
now exist.
3. In most cases three month of
open shooting are allowed for water
fowl and in some cases as much as
three and one-half months.
4. Spring shooting is absolutely
prohibited
Cboofiro 30 ,,,f-r,4,,,. h;rd- -
tween sunset and sunrise Is likewise
prohibited
6. In no case will there be less
than 20 days when birds may he shot
during the period of their greatest
abundance
Birds that may be shot are divided
by the new regulations into four
classes These, and the open sea
son allowed on them. follow
Northern Zone-1. Water fowl. Sep.
tember to December Is. 2. Rail
Z September 1 to December I. 3. Wood
c0ok. October 1 to December I. 4
Shore birds, September 1 to December
Is.
Southern Zone. Water fowl. Oc-
tober I 10 January Is. O. Rail Sep.
temberl TO December !. g. Woodcock
November 7 to January I. 4. Shore
birds. September to December Is.
No shooting whatever is allowed Of
cranes, or the columbiae doves
pigeons, otc.
A closed season until September ]
1918. is established for band-tailed
pigeons. little brown, sandhill and
whooping cranes, swans. curlews, all
shore birds except black breasted and
golden plover, Wilson OF Jack snipe
wood duck, greater and lesser yellow
legs
Wood duck, in addition. are given q
closed season in September I. 1918. in
the following States: Maine New
Hampshire, Vermont Massachusetts
/ Rhode Island. Connecticut, New Yorl
New Jersey. Pennsylvania. Ohio. IN
diana Michigan. West Virginia an,
Wisconsin.
Insectivorous birds, including rob
ins, larks, etc, are protected at al
times in all States and similar pro
lection is given the smaller shor
birds and other species which hav,
been greatly reduced IN number.
A novel and important feature &
AiA' HANtAANANiNAA WI HMiAAAnk W. Nh
great rivers OF the country excep
during November and December Pro
hihited territory as designated by tn
Regulations in this instance is as fol
lows:
/ Mississippi River from New Or
leans TO Minneapolis.
. Ohio River from its mouth l.
Pittsburgh
g. Missouri River between its mout
and Bismark. n. d.
Under the provisions Of the Weeks
Mclean law three months are give
from the time these regulations ar
made public until they are presente
to the President for approval and ar
finally adopted II is also provide
that public hearings may be- had
deemed proper and II is assumed tha
these very probably will be held.
A special committee OF three fror
the Bureau OF Biological Surve
drafted the regulations outline
above It's members are T. S. PA
mer A. x. Fisher and w. w. Cook
The Department Of Agriculture ha
issued two pamphlets on the subjec
one containing the regulations them
selves and the second an explanatio
of them These are numbered 80 an
e3 respectively.