The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-10-21

Washington, D. C.-More than 240
new game laws were enacted during
1915-a larger number than III any pre-
yious year except 1911, according to
Farmers Bulletin 692, Game Laws
for 1915" Forty-three states held reg
ular legislative sessions, and IN all
of these states except Arizona, Geor-
gia and Nebraska some changes were
made in the statutes protecting game.
The largest number of new game laws
passed in any one state was oil, In
North Carolina; but in California,
Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Ore
gon. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the
number reached ten or more. Sew
eral measures were vetoed, including
a general game bill in Idaho, the nrst
bill appropriating the hunting license
fund in Pennsylvania, bill protecting
bears in California, and three sections
of the game bill in Washington.
number of bills were introduced for
the purpose of harmonizing the state
laws on migratory birds with the fed
eraI regulations. In at least nine
states changes were made which
brought the seasons into substantial
agreement, viz: California, Con-
necticut. Maine, Michigan. New Hamp-
shire. Tennessee, and West Virginia.
In Illinois the seasons for all migra-
tory birds except coot and waterfowl,
and in Washington for the smaller
shore birds, were made to conform
with the regulations under the fed
eral law. Uniformity was also Sc
cured by provisionslin the laws Of Con-
necticut, Maine, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin,
prohibiting hunting between sunset
and sunrise On the other hand,
Delaware adopted resolution oppos-
ing the migratory law, and Ohio
and Rhode Island, which had harmo-
nized their seasons in 1914. changed
the seasons on waterfowl this year
Aliens Barred Out.
AS a result of the decision of the
Supreme court of the United States
on January 10, 1914, sustaining the
alien hunting law of Pennsylvania, leg
islation prohibiting aliens from hunt
ing or owning shotguns or rifles was
enacted in at least four states-Mass-
achusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota
and West Virginia, but certain ex-
ceptions based on property qualifica-
lions were made in Massachusetts and
New Jersey.
Close seasons extending for several
years were provided for certain kinds
of big game and also for game birds.
| Hunting mountain sheep was suspend
ed in Idaho, Montana and Washington,
and goats were protected until 1913 in
Montana. Moose were protected for
four years in Maine, the first abso-
! lutte close season on this species for
! 35 years-since the suspension OF
) hunting from 1878 to 1880. Antelope
were given indefinite protection in
New Mexico, and Oklahoma prairie
chickens were protected for several
years. Michigan extended complete
protection, also, to quail, imported
pheasants, grouse, and wood ducks for
five years. Minnesota protected
doves, woodcock, plover and wood
! ducks until 1913 New Mexico gave
| protection to pheasants, bobwhites,
| pigeons and swans. Oklahoma pro-
! tected doves, grouse, wood ducks and
curlew. Several birds were removed
! from the game list and protected
through the year. Oklahoma gave
such protection to pelicans, gulls and
herons Tennessee declared ring
neck pheasants, bulIbats, robins and
I meadowlarks to be nongame birds. In
I a few cases protection was removed
from certain species notably the tur-
/ key buzzard in Delaware, Florida and
! North Carolina, owls and starlings in
New Hampshire, and cormorants in
Illinois and North Dakota.
For the first time in II years moose
hunting is permitted in Wyoming, and
for the first time since 1907 prairie-
chicken shooting is permitted in In
diana.
New Features of State Laws.
Among the novel features in the
laws this year may be mentioned the
declaration in the Florida law that
ownership of game is vested in the
respective counties; the provision Of
| the California law protecting spike
| bucks, or deer with unbranched horns,
/ instead of deer with horns of GER
tain length; and the Wyoming expert
ment of allowing the killing of so
bull moose under 800 licenses instead
of an indefinite number during a linn
! tied season Methods of hunting were
restricted in Michigan by prohibiting
| the use of automobiles in hunting
/ cartridges, and in Indiana by pro-
i hibiting the use of searchIights or 9th
er artificial lights attached to autos
for hunting game on or near high
way. Several new restrictions on
| shipments appeared for the first time:
i Illinois prohibited importation from
i points outside the state OF any
game except deer legally killed. Penn
sylvania prohibited shipment of game
/ by parcel post, and Wisconsin, ship
ment under an alias. Connecticut au-
/ thorizes the commissioners OF fisher
/ les and game to grant permits to
bring IN game lawfully killed outside
the state, provided sucn game is not
] offered for sale.
i N.-H