Evening journal., 1914-05-09
'REEDIES' LEGAL
CAME HERE AGAIN
Protest Against Weeks--Mc-
Lean Bill Brings Open
Season Here Again
HISTORY OF FIGHT
AGAINST THE LAW

reed birds in the usual open season,
came as a pleasant surprise to the
many lovers of the marshes and the
gun. Sportsmen all over the State
had protested against the action of
the federal government which pro-
hibited the killing of the birds while
sportsmen in other States were al
lowed to kill as many "reedies" as
they desired II is estimated that
fully 5000 sportsmen protested
against the discrimination A meet
ing was held at the Hotel DUPONT on
April 2S at which the majority of
sportsmen of the State protested
against the Weeks-McLean bill
Under this pressure United States
Senator Salisbury took the matter
up and finally had the Department of
Agriculture change its ruling.
A great part of the credit for hay-
ing the law suspended Is due to John
p. lie Fevre, the chief game warden
of Delaware, who worked hard for
the interest of the sportsmen, and
Walter Hartlove, son of w. II. Hart
love, the gunsmith at Third and
French streets He and other sports
men distributed petitions and for
warded them to Senator salisbury.
The proclamation of opening sea-
son will follow the same procedure
In such cases.
The memorial sent by the sportsmen
of Delaware to the Hon. David +. Hons
ton, Secretary OF Agriculture of the
United Stntcs. which resulted in reed
birds being restored to the game bird
list. was as follows.
70 the Honorable Secretary of Agricul-
ture.
Sir. At a meeting of the sportsmen
of the State of Delaware, held ON April
2S. 1914. in the city of Wilmington, the
undersigned were appointed commit.
tee to report that the existing closed
season throughout the year on reed
birds be abrogated and that an open
season ON this species be declared by
YOU, with the approval of the President,
from September ! to October 81, in
elusive Of each year.
Basis Of Memorial
This request is based principally on
/ the following facts;
/. The State of Delaware is unmstly
disseminated against in that the ex-
isting regulations permit the taking Of
/ these birds in the States Of Maryland.
Virginia and South Carolina, and the
( District of Columbia during September
and October. the months that we wish
declared open on this species in this
/ State
p Tho regulations as issued in ten
tativc form by the Bureau of Biological
Survey gave us the open season we are
now asking. and this was wiped out at
the eleventh hour without any notice
/ To us. and consequently without giving
4 liz. 90. lsa
I 2. The general enforcement of wild
| life protective laws in the State of
! Delaware will be seriously menaccd un-
I less an open season is granted through
/ a wholesale falling of in hunters il
ccnses. which now provide the means
] for the employment of game wardens
/ and other protective measures.
! 4. Al States in the southern zone
} IN which the reed bird occurs in large
numbers are given an open season with
the single exception of Delaware
We have sent to the Hon. willard
Salisbury at Washington petitions
containing 5000 names Of spor;smen.
We crave your indulgence now
while we detail the facts that have
led to our addressing you in this in
stance
History of Case.
/ Ever since October 1, 1913. when
the regulations made under authority
4 Of the recently enacted Federal mi
gratory bird protective law were pro-
mulgated. there has been a growing
: conviction among the sportsmen and
Wild life conservationists of this State
not only that an injustice has been
done IN prohibiting reed bird shoot
ing entirely but also that the future
of game protection in Delaware is
definitely jeopardized. SO strong did
this become that a testing of the SEN
timent Of the people of the State was
made by the circulation of petitions.
This disclosed a widespread and over
whelming spirit OF dissatisfaction and
alarm. In one instance 5000 names
were secured within the brief space
of days.
In view Of the above, a hearing
was requested Of the Bureau Of Bio
logical Survey and granted. An at
tendance that tested the capacity oil
the room was present when the meet.
ing was called to order. Every sec.
tion Of the State was represented and
there was present i'm addition Dr. T.
s. Palmer of the United States Blu
reau OF Biological Survey.
We shall now enlarge somewhat on
the grounds on which we ask your
action, endeavoring thereby to give a
condensed version OF the views ex.
pressed at the meeting above referred
to.
Attention was called to the appar.
: ent discrimination against Delaware
In forbidding shooting Of reed birds
within her borders and permitting Il
In the States of Maryland and Vir.
ginia, and in the District of Colum.
bia, Immediately TO the south.
Bureaus Position Inconsistent.
In replying TO this criticism DIR. Pal.
mer stated ON behalf Of the Committee
OF the biological Survey. which drafted
the resolution, that this was done be-.
cause Of the fact that Delaware had
means for enforcing protective laws
while the other states did not. We sub
init that this is equivalent to saving TO
the several states:
II you do all you can 10 enforce
protective laws we shall discrimi.
nate against you, but il you make
no efforts in that direction we shall
permit you TO have special priv.
legcs IN the taking Of game.
The reed bird is the only game bird