Evening journal., 1914-04-29
OPEN FIGHT FOR
REED BIRD Shooting
Delaware SportSmen Declare
Weeks Mclean Law is
Discriminating
ASK SENATORS
TO GIVE HELP

To GIVE HELP
AT a mass meeting OF Delaware
sportsmen held last night in the
rose room OF the Hotel DUPONT pro-
test was made against the provisions
of the Weeks-McLean migratory
game bird law which prohibits reed
bird cunning in Delaware. AS hunt
ing the little yellow breasted game
bird is a very popular sport in this
State IL was decided to appoint a
committee to draft resolution to be
presented to the secretary of agri-
culture in which the sentiments of
the spOrtsmen are expressed as fav-
Oring the old Delaware reed bird law.
IL was further decided that copies of
this resolution be sent to the two
Senators and the Congressman from
Delaware for the purpose of securing
their aid I'm restoring reed bird gun
ming In Delaware.
The meeting was presided over by
J. Danforth Bush, who stated the pur-
pose of the meeting and explained
provisions OF the Weeks Mclean
migratory game bird law. Mr.. Bush
also read kilograms which had been
received from United States Senator
Willard Salisbury and Congressman
Franklin Brockson, of Delaware, and
expressing their regret at being un-
able to attend the meeting
Game Commissioner H. Clay Davis
explained the necessity for a game
warden service in Delaware, declar-
ing that the upkeep Of the service de-
pended on the sale or gunners' IL
censes. He declared that If the reed
bird season were closed throughout
the entire year the sale of licenses
would naturally decrease, thus de-
priving the State of the source Of
revenue for the game warden service.
ID. J. Reinhardt, who was a mem
Der OF the legislature which passed
the game warden act. spoke against
the discrimination against Delaware
In permitting an open season for reed
bird in adjoining states and prohibit
ing an open season in Delaware, but
a few miles distant He advocated a
short season of about two weeks,
opening about the second week in
September
lean Game Protective Association, de-
clared that the federal statute pro-
tecting migratory birds and song
birds was one Of the greatest meth
ods for the preservation Of our birds.
But he declared that If any State is
entitled to an open season on reed
birds. Delaware surely was.
Cecil Harmon spoke on the habitat
Of the reed bird, telling of its habits
in the different sections of the coun-
try and under the different names of
reed bird, rice bird and bobolink.
DR.. Palmer, of the Biological Sur
vey, then explained the position Of
the Department OF Agriculture on
the question. He declared that the
bulletin which had been read by Mr..
Harmon was published in 1885 and
did not apply to conditions In the
Carolinas at the present time. lie
then proceeded TO give the reasons
for which the closed season on reed
bird had been advocated.
He declared that the reed bird was
both a song bird and an insectivOrous
bird, and as such was entitled to the
protection of the Department of Agri-
culture as much as was the robin OF
other song birds.
The meeting adopted a resolution
presented by H. Clay Davis, State
game commissioner, authorizing the
chairman to appoint a committee tC
prepare a draft of a resolution tC
submit TO the Secretary of Agricul.
ture expressing the sentiment of tho
spOrtsmen of Delaware regarding tho
provisions of the reed bird law. An
amendment was adopted that copies
Of this resolution be submitted to tn,
two United States Senators from Del
aware and to Congressman Franklin
Brockson.
A resolution presented by Major w
G. Ramsay was adopted providing
that the sentiment of the meeting as
expressed in the resolution to be pre-
pared by the committee should be
that the sportsmen of Delaware fav-
ored a restoration of the Delaware
statute permitting an open season fol
reed birds. from September l to Oc
tober 1 inclusive.
]. Danforth Bush, chairman of tn,
meeting, appointed DR.. Horace r
/ Belts, A. ID. Poole, and II. Clay Davis
members of the committee to prepar,
the resolution to present to the Sec
retary Of Agriculture.
During the meeting an invitation
was received from Ira Hards, man
ager of the Ira Hards Stock Com
pany. then playing Green Stock
ings" in The Playhouse, for tn,
sportsmen to be his guests at tn,
play at the conclusion of the meet
ing. Before adjournment the meet
ing adopted resolutions thanking
Manager Ernest Taite, of the Hote
DUPONT, for the use of the rose room
Mr.. Hards for his invitation TO wit
ness the production of Green Stock
! ings,' and DR.. Palmer for his pres
ence at the meeting to explain thl
attitude of the Biological Survey oi
the question of the open season 70
reed bird
Diamonds are being sold below COS