The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-02-19
men WITH SHOT GUNS|
Something That viii Interest Ev-
cry One Of the NimrOds

There having been much discussion
regarding the spring shooting in Iowa
perhaps the following will prove in,
teresting and timely. 1t surely looks
as il 1t settled the matter: ~. ::
+. &. nnshaW. Iowa state fish and
game warden, recently announced that
the Iowa authorities would take no
part in the prosecution OF gunners
found shooting wild ducks before
April II next, and that announcement
created wide interest and discussion,
in view of the fact that the federal
statute with reference to the killing
of migratory birds is explicit in pro.
hibiting such spring shooting Of mi.
gratOry birds. The following letter,
which is self explanatory, will be read
with further interest:
Washington, d. c.. Feb. 2.
Mr.. +. c. Hinshaw,
State Fish and Game Warden,
Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Dear Sir: | am just in receipt OF
your letter of Jan. 20 in regard to
the enforcement of the federal law
protecting migratory birds.
Il regret exceedingly that you
have been misled by any reports in
the press and have given out a state
ment to the effect that this law will
not be enforced this spring. No officer
of this department or any other state
has authority to suspend the opera
ton of an act of congress or proc
lamatiCn of the president. Ii any mis-.
take has been made in notifying the
public, | trust that you will endeavor
to correct it as promptly as possible
in order that sportsmen may not be
led to believe that they can hunt with
impunity and thus render themselves
liable to indictment by a federel
grand jury.
THE game commissions of Indiana
and New Jersey have given public no
tice that the federal law supersedes
all state laws and the New Jersey
commission has gone further by in
Structng their wardenS to notify the
public that if hunters get into trouble
on account of violating the federal
regulations they need expect no as
sistancc from the game commission
directly or indirectly. If you Will
take firm stand in this matter and
advise the spOrtsmen in your state
not to hunt this spring there will be
very little trouble. We have no dis
erection in the enforcement of the
law and must proceed as far as we
can with the means at hand. we
have just appointed Mr.. w. A. Gron'
eweg warden at Council Bluffs and
have a deputy marshal on the Mis-
sissippi river. If you will recommend
some good men we will increase the
force very promptly.
I'VE have been busily engaged IN
protecting your birds in the south
this winter and have succeeded in
materially reducing the slaughter OF
wild fowl in Arkansas. The birds
have had a favorable winter and the
least the sportsmeh Of Iowa can dc
is to give them safe passage to theiI
breeding grounds. We are issuing
instructions to all our men to cooper
ate in every way with state author
tiles, and if hunters are found violat
ing the state laws to assist in thelI
prosecution in the state courts.
trust we may have the same co-opera
ton from the local authorities OF
Iowa. The season is now closed
throughout the northern zone and II
most of the southern zone. Give us
your assistance in protecting the
birds and not the gave violators.
Very truly yours,
"T. S. PALMER.
Assistant Chief, Biological Survey.