The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-22
24O NE.y STATE CAME
 LAWS ENACTED IN 1915.
Much Local Legislation to Protect Birds and Big Game. Nine States Bring Closed Seasons Into Agree ment With Federal Migratory Bird Law,

Der than in any previous year except 1911. according to Farmers Bulletin 692, Game Laws for 1915." Forty three states held regular Legislative Sessions, and in all of these states except Arizona, Georgia and Nebras- 4xa some changes were made in the statutes protecting game. The larg~ est number of new game laws passed in any one state was s1, in North Carolina; but in; Ca.iif ornia, Connec- ticut Maine, New Jersey. Oregon. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the mum Der reached 10 or more Several measures were vetoed, including a general game bill in Idaho, the first bill appropriating the hunting-icense fund in Pennsylvania, Q bill protect ing bears in California, and three sec lions of the game bill in Washington. A number of bills were introduced for the purpose of harmonizing the state laws on migratory birds with the Federal regulations. In at least nine states changes were made which brought the seasons into substantial agreement, viz: California Connecti- cut, Maine. Michigan, New Hampl shires Tennessee and West Virginia In Illinois the seasons for all naigra-T tory birds except coot and waterfowl, . and in Washington for the smaller shore birds, were made to conform with the regulations under the Fed
 
 cured by provisions in the laws of Connecticut. Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington and Wis consin. prohibiting hunting between sunset and sunrise. On the other hand, Delaware adopted a, resolution opposing the migratory-bir law, and Ohio and Rhode Island. which had harmonized their seasons in 1914, changed the seasons on waterfowl this year.
 As a result of the decision of the7 supreme court of the United States on. January 19, 1914, sustaining the alien hunting law of Pennsylvania, legislation prohibiting aliens from hunting or owning shotguns or rifles was enacted in at least four states Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota and West Virginias--but cer- tain exceptions based property qualifications were made in Massa- chusetts and New Jersey.
 Close seasons extending for several years were provided for certain. kinds of big game and also for game birds ~Huntlng mountain sheep was sus- pended in Idaho, Montana and Wash ington and goats were protected until 1918 in Montana. Moose were pro- tected for four years in Maine the first absolute close season on this species1 for 35 yearsEsinces the suspension of - lope were given indefinite protection in New Mexico and Montana. In Michigan, New Mexico and Oklahoma prairie chickens were protected for several years. Michigan extended complete protection also to quail, inn ported pheasants, grouse and wood ducks for five years. Minnesota pro tected doves, woodcock, blower and wood ducks until SIS. New Mexico gave protection to pheasants, bob whites, pigeons and swans. Oklado- ma protected doves, grouse, wood ducks and curIew. Several birds were removed from the game list and pro- tected through the year. Oklahoma gave such protection to pelicans. glil1s and herons.g Tennessee declar- ed ring-neck pheasants, bullbats, rom ins and Ineadowlarks to- be nongame birds. In a few. eases protection was removed from certain species-nota- bly the turkey ,buzzard in Delaware. FIorida. and North Carolina, owls and starlings in New Hampshire and cor morants in Illinois and North Dako- ta.
 For the first time in<12 years moose hunting is permitted in Wyoming, and for the first time since 1907 prairie chicken shooting is permitted in In diana.
 Novel Features of State Laws. A1 Il
 
 laws this year. may be mentioned the declaration in. the. Florida. law that , ownership of game is vested in the respective countless; the provision in [the California law protecting spike . bucks, or deer with unbrancAaed horns instead of deer with horns of a certain length; and the Wyoming experiment of allowing the killing of 50 bull moose under $1O0g1icense in stead of an indefinite number. duTing a. limited season. Methods of hunt ing were restricted in Michigan by prohibiting the use of automobiles in hunting cartridges, andYin Indiana by prohibiting the use of Searchlights or other artificial lights attached to autos for hunting game sonNor near highway. Several new restrictions on shipments appeared for the first time: Illinois prohibited importation from points outside the state of any game except deer legally killed P;ennsyIva- mia prohibited shipment of game by parcel post, and Wisconsin, shipment under an alias. Connecticut author ized the commissioners of fisheries and game to grant permits to bring in game lawfully killed outside the state, provided such game is not offered for sale.
 Quail.
 Notwithstanding the agitationsin fa- vor of protecting quail for several years in some sections, no bills of this kind were passed this year, and 39 states still provide quail shooting The seasons we're shortened six weeks in Oklahoma and two weeks in Nevada. Limits were established for the first time in Arkansas and New Hamp- shire, reduced in Iowa from 25 to 1 , per day in Oklahoma from 2 5 to 10, in Minnesota from 15 to 10, and fn- creased in Nevada from 5 to 20. All but IA of the states which permit quail hunting now have limit of 20 birds or less per day.
 Waterfowl.
 All the states now allow waterfowl hunting, but the wood duck is pro- tected for several years through out the northern zone and in the south hern zone in the states of California, Kan sas and West Xireiraia Daily bag 1