Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-03-20
BIRD LIFE SAVED.
UNCLE SAM TO PROTECT ALL
MIGRATORY GAME AND IN
sEcTlvoRous KINDS.
RESULT OF LONG CAMPAIGN
Act Passed Alm=st Unanimously by
Last Congress Gives Department Of
Agriculture Power to Prevent TX
tInctIon Of Many Species.
Nv GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington.-By an act of the last
congress just three days before ad-
journment the whole system OF pro-
lection of the wild birds Of the United
States was changed. This bill will go
into effect at once but the existing
state laws will remain as they are I'M
| til the department OF agriculture has
prepared new federal regulations for
the governing Of the protection OF
game and insectivorous birds In all
sections of the Union. This matter
is Of interest 10 every sportsman and
every market man. to every farmer.
and to every bird lover, nc matter In
what state Of the Union he lives
1t should be said that the federal
laws will have no control of non-mi-
gratory birds, whether they be game.
birds or song birds. This limits the
action OF the law very little, however.
because comparatively few birds re-
main within the borders OF anyone.
state through the twelve months Of
the year. One or. two examples may.
be given, however, OF birds which
probably must depend hereafter, for
the protection Of their lives and Of
their families from actual extinction
on the action Of state legislatures.
The runed grouse, called the partridge
In many states and the pheasant In
other states, is q non-migratory bird,
at least 1t probably will be so de-
cided Il be by the department OF agri-
culture. The prairie chicken also is
non-migratory and 1t probably also
must depend upon state protection,
but nearly all the other birds OF the
United States, game, 1nsectivorous and
song. n migratory and hereafter will
be protected by Uncle Sam.
Scope Of the Measure.
Here is a section of the bill which
shows definitely what 1t is intended
to do:
"AIl wild geese, wild swans, brant,
wild ducks, snipe, plover, woodcock,
rail, wild pigeons, and all other migra-
tory game and insectivorous birds
which in their northern and southern
m1grations pass through or do not re-
main permanently the entire year
within the borders Of any state or
territory. shall hereafter be deemed
to be within the custody and protec-
ton of the government Of the United
States, and shall not be destroyed or
taken contrary to regulations here
inbefore provided therefor"
1t has been found by the agricul-
tural department that> the game laws
Of the different states do not protect
in all cases. Some OF the states have
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books giving protection to certain
birds for certain periods, but In many
of these cases it is found that the
birds do not occur In the states dur
ing the periods In which protection is
provided. In other words, there IL NJ
protection at all. =
AS things are to be in the future,
the department OF agriculture will
adopt regulations prescribing and tx.
ing closed seasons, having due regard
to the xones OF temperature, breeding
habits and times and lines Of migra-
tory flight, thereby enabling the de-
partment to select and designate suit
able districts for different birds Of the
country, "and it shall be unlawful to
shoot or by any device kill or seize
and capture migratory birds within the
protection of this law during said
closed season, and any person who
shall violate any Of the provisions or
regulations Of this law for the pro-
lection of migratory birds shall be
guilty OF misdemeanor and shall be
fined not more than 500 or impris-
oned not more than ninety days, or
/ both IN IA Attenuation - ~ -. ~
Support Almost Unanimous.
The influences for this federal legis-
lation for the protection OF birds
which 1t was feared rapidly were be
coming extinct, were exsrtsd from
every state in the Union. There was
no sectionalism In 1t, and few persons
raised the plea Of states rights In or
der to- defeat the measure. 1t ID said
that public opinion all over the United
States had become so aroused because
OF the diminishing game btFAs anA
song birds that all bubbles wOrO put
aside. and virtually n unanimous sonti-
ment exerted itself for the measure.
There We're only fifteen votes against
1t In the house OF Representatives.
National and state oranges, state
and local game protective associa-
tons. bird societies Of all kinds, and
other organisations worked for this
measure. It Is declared to be de
most important event In the history
Of bird life conservation In the United
States.
After the department of~Sakricultnre
has prepared it's regulations they are
to be published and then Z, period of
three months is to be allowed ia
which the regulations may be exam
med and considered before dnaIs adbp-
ton. IL necessary public hearings viii
be held. After the regulations finally.
are drawn and adopted by the depart.
ment OF agriculture they WIN be sub
mitted to the president Of the. United
States for his approval. The bird pro
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