Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-12-17


recommendation made by the Hon. j.
A. Viquesney as forest, game and fish
warden in his third biennial report.
|. The enactment of resident
hunters license law for the purpose
of raising revenue for the protection
of our forests, the protection and
propagation of our fish and game, in
GLIDING the payment of bounties on
noxious animals and birds, and for the
protection of our farmers and land
owners by providing means of identi-
fication by which the destruction of
property and other acts Of vandalism
by hunters in the fields, may be traced
and the perpetrators punished.
2. Our law relating to forest fires
should be amended so as to conform to
the rules and regulations of the United
States government in order to receive
cooperation from the government in
this work, and to afford better protec-
ton to our forests.
3. Authority should be granted the
forest, game and fish warden to close
certain depleted streams to fishing, so
that fish planted may be given time
to multiply.
a. The open season on both trout
and bass should be shortened; limit
on the number of trout to be taken
per day should be fixed at rs and the
minimum length of trout to be taken
should be raised from to 6 inches.
5. Section Al Of the acts of 1909
should be amended so as to make its
meaning clear as to the catching Of
fish of the sucker variety in any way
at any time, which is very conflict
ing and is not plain even to the legal
profession,
6. 1t is suggested that it be made
unlawful to catch fish in any of the
streams of the state except with hook
and line.
r. Open and closed seasons on all
migratory birds should be made to
conform with the Federal law.
s. There should be bag limit on
grey squirrels of not more than IL per
day.
8. All unnaturalized foreigners
should be prohibited from carrying or
owning firearms Of any kind.
10. Authority should be given to
the forest game and fish warden to
lease land for game and bird refugees
and sanctuaries, where all shooting
may be prohibited and game and
birds raised for stocking purposes.
IL. A nonresident fishing license
should be established
IL. 1t should be made unlawful for
any corporation, firm or individual to
dump or place in any stream or water
course in our state any waste from
numbering operations or any rubbish
that would tend to obstruct or pollute
the waters of said stream.
13. Authority should be given and
funds appropriated for the establish
ment of state fish hatchery
IA. We recommend the establish
ment Of a commission composed of
competent persons for scientific in
vestigations. and study of industrial
water pollution, its effect upon the
public health and upon fish and aquat-
iclife and for the purpose Of expert
encing and determining on the best
methods Of abating said pollution.
The Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session was opened
by discussion Of the open and closed
seasons for fish, which was led by H.
w. Smith, Of Middlebourne. Mr. Smith
declared that the closed season on
bass, from April Is to June 16, is en-
tirely too short, and recommended
closed season of six months, from
January to July l.
Usefulness of Our Song and In
sectivorous Birds" was the subject of
an address delivered by Rev. Earle A.
Brooks, of Weston, w. Va, which was
an unusually eloquent tribute to the
feathery songsters.
In beginning DR.. Brooks pointed out
that there are 261 species and sub
species of birds in West Virginia. He
stated that for almost thirty years he
has studied the bird life of our state,
and declared it his deliberate conclu-
sion that there are few, if any, species
which should not be protected by law
and by public sentiment back of the
law. There are" he said, "a very few
species that do not deserve legal pro-
lection, but ] would hesitate very
greatly to name them"
He discussed the bird as destroyer
of insect life, which if unchecked,