Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-05

Virginia stands fourth from the bot
tom In tho States of the Union In It's
game protection. This means that for
ty-four States are guarding their nat
ural resources In this respect, better
than we, and that only three. are so
negligent. This is not very creditabIe.
but II is true. We boast OF good many
things hero in the Old Dominion, and
one is our observance OF law. Arc VIC
facing the truth, or are We dcceivins
oursclves?
There might be some excuse for such
situation II Virginia wero situated
as aorne States arc Gas Connecticut or
New Jersey. SO thiclsly settled and
hemmed In by civilization that tho
propagation OF game is well-nigh inn
possible except by artificial means.
But Virginia IS not thlcltly populated
and has always been ono OF tho great
sratory birds, such az ducks and geese,
on the continent. With tho exception
perhaps Of Texas. the Eastern Shore OF
virginia, Back Day and Curritucll
Sound. winter more aquatic bird life
than any other like area in the United
States, In addition; think OF tho acres
OF unoccupied lands and broom straw,
fields for quail and upland game.
Why is Virginia. with It's traditions
for great things, go uncivilizcd In game
protection" From those who have
struggled no patiently and unselnshl,'
for better game laws and their en-
forcemcnt, the answer comes:
First-.a discouraging apathy from
the H6ncrRs nnhlia u-hn n tn,
terest.
second--Local prejudices against the
States interfering in such matters.
This seems peculiar to Virginia.
Third--The strong opposition by In
dividuals or companies making revenue
through tho killing OF game. These
are the active people against efficient
Game laws.
Difficult to Create Understanding.
1t is no easy task to make people
take game protection seriously. They
choose to consider II as a special meas
ure in the interest OF sportsmen or the
idle few. Thoy refuse to consider that
sport Is only an incidont--tiat the con-
sorvation OF bird life is Of incalculabIe
value to the farmer in tho destruction
OF bugs and worm life. Why, this was
the duty OF the bird In the scheme of
existence, il you believe In such a
scheme. He was put on earth for this
purpose. and If he is destroyed our ono
great protection against the insect
pest Is gone This, believe, is not
open to argument.
Further. II one looks ut it in tho
American way. that OF dollars and
cents, Virginia now gets no revenue
from Its great natural resources of
gamo and game fish. Consider what
other States are doing. Maine has ex-
ccllcnt game laws and cnforces them
Through Its nonresident license tax it
secures revenue enough to support
game commissioners, force of game
wardens, receiving about SEQ per
month and expenses, forest patrol
for fire protection, and in addition turns
into the State treasury each year n
handsome surplus. Far moro impor-
tant than this ia that because the gamo
Is protected. it is increasing-there are
moro moose and deer In AIaino to-day
than there were nfty years ago---so
more sportsnnen and tourists arc going
there, until the revenue In money left
In tho State by It's thousands of tour.
lists is second only to ts lumber inter-
osts. If one should attempt to destroy
their system OF game protection n
wavo Of opposition would arise much
as would develop in Virginia at an at
tempt to destroy our tobacco business
Both are commercially sound PROPOSE
tons. and pay.
Alabama has recently adopted a sim
liar system. Through it's hunting Ii
censes and fines alone. it has turned into
the state treasury, after paying all OK
penses. n net profit so far of over s3o,-
600.
1t is Estimated that sl6,000,O0o is
spent annually in California in pur-
suit of game. Similar figures can be
secured from dozens Of States. How
about Virginia?
No Salaried Game yyardens.
There Is not g. salaricd game war
den IN the employ of tho State. There
Is a $40 nonresident license:, yet, bo-
cause wo have no paid official to coll
lect it. ] have the authority OF the
Auditor Of Public Accounts to say that
the revenue TO the, state treasury in
1914, from this source amounted to
s16a. Meanwhile, wild game and fish
arc vanishing at an alarming rate.
Virginia should havo as good a reve-
nue' from this source as Maine. It