Connecticut western news., 1913-10-09
HUNTING SEASON OPENED
State Board of Fisheries and Game
 Explains Game Laws.

Explains Game Laws.
 The open hunting season began yes- tsrday, and as game is more plentiful than in several years, it IS expected that many hunter will be confronted with a temptation to exceed the legal bag limits, which are five day on partridge and quail, thirty-five day on rail, and fifty day on shore birds-plover, sand piper. snipe. mud hen and galhnule. The two latter are considered identical by many, both being commonly called mudhen, and some even include the grebes in the family of mud-hens. The mud-hen in the law books is the Ameri. cap Coot, slate-colored bird about the sIze of a small domestic hen, has an ivory white bill and pale green legs, with scalloped webs on the feet. The galli. mule is, in some respects, to the coot but has red bill and no webs on it's feet. The grebes are commonly called dipper-ducks or hell-divers, and are be lieved to be, by many, species of duck, which may be legally shot during the open duck season, but this Is a mistake. There is no open season on dipper-ducks, and there is heavy fine imposed for killing them at any time.
 While it is one of the principle mis- sions of the State Board of Fisheries and Game to conserve the wild denizens of the woods and waters, it also believes that the hunter, who pays for his license to hunt, should not be deprived of his sport. It is with this idea in mind that the Board has incorporated in it's instruc- tions to wardens and protectors this paragraph:
 "When 8 sportsman has manifested his readiness to comply with the require ments of the law, wardens and protec tors should help him ia getting his sport by indicating localities where, in their judgment, game and fish are most likely to be found"
 "Wardens and protectors are charged to be courteous, yet firm, In executing their duties; to have, in that connec- tion, neither friends to reward nor enemies to punish; to insist upon seeing the license under which any person claims the right to shoot; to request sportsmen to inform them of the num- Der of birds shot, fish or Holsters taken, with a view to ascertaining the increase or decrease of game or fish; to endeavor, by their conduct and bearing, to create favorable impression of the warden service. and desire to assist its enforc- ing the law"
 Persecution is by no means the aim of the State Board of Fisheries and Game, yet its wardens and protectors are in- structed to be yigilant in enforcing the fish and game laws. and in preventing the illegal taking of fish and game" " Prevention is better than cure, and ''it is far better to prevent poachiug than to arrest 8 guilty man after the game or fish is taken"
 There are few "don 'ts" which should be memorized by the man behind the gun. before he starts out in pursuit of his game dinner, lest he should meet, perchance, the man behind the badge. It sometimes proves embarrassing as we'll as expensive for the sportsman to insist upon a difference of opinion with the officer, or to say that he didn't know he was violating the law-that excuse is worn out.
 Don't leave your hunting license at home. If you do, you are subject to ar- rest for not having it with you.
 Don't kill more than five partridge in day; nor exceed the other bag limits mentioned above.
 Don't shoot song birds, little dipper- ducks (hell-divers), nor the wood duck, nor any wild birds except the recognized game birds. If you do it may cost you several dollars in court.
 Don't hunt on Sunday. It's an ex- travagant pastime, if you get caught at it.
 Don't set snares, traps or nets for birds; don't snare anything. There IS a heavy fine for violating this law.
 Don't kill Hungarian partridge before Nov. l. It is close season on these birds this month.
 Don't injure fences or let down bars without replacing them, because you will have to forfeit your hunting license and the town clerk will not issue another in your name for two years.
 Don't hunt, trap, fish, or trespass on land of another, whether posted or not, without permission. Section 1914 of the General Statutes provides that. Every person who shall enter upon the enclosed land of another. without permission of the owner, occupant, or person in charge thereof, for the purpose of hunting, trap ping. fishing, or of taking or destroying the nests or eggs of birds, or gathering nuts, fruits or berries, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars, and in default of the payment of the fine, be imprisoned