Milford chronicle., 1913-12-19
A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAME
LEGISLATION In DELAWARE

In view of the hunting season now be-
ing with US and the discussion Of the
game laws now going on it may be IN
teresting to briefly trace the history OF
game protection in Delaware.
Quite a number of game laws were
enacted previous to the Revolutionary
War. among them being one in 1850 pro-
hibiting Sunday hunting, which was re-
enacted in 1895. In 1889 non-resldents
were prohibited from killing or captur-
ing wild fowl on the waters or marshes
of Delaware River or bay, and Two
years later this law was extended to IN
clude all rivers, creeks and lands border
ing thereon. In 1S47 the first closed sea-
son for rabbits, quail, woodcock and
pbeasants was established in New Cas-
tle County, and in 1851 the first general
game law went into effect. This pro-
fected certain birds and rabbits from
March 1st to July lst, and prohibited
non-citizens from hunting on lands OF
another without permission, or towing
export. e..4
In 1859 rail and reed birds were first
nrotected and the game laws were re-
Guired to be published in three state
newspapers for four weeks before the
onening of the hunting season. In 1873
q Came Protective Association was in
cornorated and non-resdents of the State
were prohibited from hunting without
securing a certificate of membership.
This association had entire charge OF
game protection for years and dld much
GOOD work. notably in restocking Jne
State with quail when that bird was al
...e.t o,Jterminated bv the big blizzard
that visited Delaware about twenty
years ago. oor,-
In 1911 the Legislature made com
nlete revision of the game laws, put an
and to the Game Protective Association,
snd created a State Board Of Game ana
F;sb Commissioners, charging 1t with
tbe dutv of protecting not only the game
Of +be State. but also the fish and all
wild birds, and gave the commlsslonels
authority to organize a warden seLslot i.'Iot
to enforce the laws. In order 70 me- tLc
the expenses incident to these laws ene
Legislature of 1913 enacted tne ilGense
law requiring all hunters except laiiu .4;'Io
lords and tenants and their respectlYe
children hunting on their own premises
fo annually obtain a license 70 nun. Ti
The resident license costs SI: ~: - 4 ne
nonresident S1050 to hunt ana 90 oU 70
fsb This is the method Of raising the
necaeearv -,ol.c revenue that has been sue
cesefuiIv adopted in thirty-eight OF our
s;s+er States. The Legislature further
nrovided that all the funds received from ron
H. sale of license, as well as the Ilnes
;r,nosed S--T for violations of the game laws,
,,a,iet he expended in the protectloh anu
nIronaSation I,uSs g of game, birds and FISH
Each Commissioner and warden is hesv1 ilS e,,
iIv bonded for the honest ,al ana Iaiuhlui .dars
performance of his duties: Inc WINS watHins
are selected by means OF ,,;sed conPeedi'itto ~
nontbIv eMa,tIiiv submit sworn reports. While
monenIS IlS nean,SS,,5;ssioners are required to make
: one eompIete Uo report to each Legislature;
SV1ug Wbere this method has been tried lit It
hos met met with general appreciation, 11e to
nniv nT fro from the sportsman, who is glaad i5o 70
hear H the financial burden because OF tne