Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1915-02-25
FISH AND
GAME BILLS
Many Measures Before the
Legislature.
e INTRODUCED.
The Bills That Are Proposed to
Change the Present Fish
and Game Laws

have been introduced in the Legisla-
ture so far this session. While the
total number is no greater than the
yearly average at this period of the
session, still the sportsmen have been
compelled to plead with their repre-
sentatives for a square deal, as is now
taking place. There is a vast differ
ence in opinion between the sports
men and the average South Jersey
market fishermen, and there is a cam
paign not only for good legislation.
but against measures that will tear
down the conservative legislation that
it has taken years to create.
In this the sportsmen are following
the lead of the State Board of Fish
and Game Commissioners, which body
has taken a decided stand against
changing the hunting season, the bill
to permit drawing of seines under the
ice, bill to abolish the hunting Ii
censes and one to repeal the act en-
acted last year to provide for an ang-
lers-gunners' license law, as well as
many others.
The bill to change the hunting sea-
son by extending it until January /.
as we'll as to set back the opening date
from November 10 to November Is.
has caused the organized hunters of
Essex county to ask for a hearing
which will be granted and a date set
for such hearing by the chairman of
the House Committee as the bill which
originated in the Senate has passed
that body.
Another bill that will draw crowd
to Trenton is the measure to abolish
all pound nets in the waters of the
Atlantic Ocean and Sandy Hook and
Raritan bays. This is the first bill of
the kind to emanate from a southern
county, and the contest will centre
around the rod and line fishermen of
South Jersey and the pound net men
of the State, with the rod and line
fishermen throughout the State sup
porting the bill.
The bills now before both Houses
are as follows:
Senate "a. Makes it lawful to fish
with seines under ice in salt waters.
This is opposed by the Fish and Game
Department because millions of small
fish are caught and destroyed as they
have no market value. The present
law was passed two years ago to pro-
test the fish that hibernate under the
ice in Barnegat bay, but there is
strong movement on foot to repeal it.
The bill has passed the Senate and is
now in the House committee.
Senate Ill. Changes the season for
hunting quail, rabbit, English or
ring-necked pheasant, squirrel, grouse
and other upland game from Novem-
ber 10 to November 20, and extends
the season from December Is, to Jan
uary 1. This bill was amended in the
Senate to November Is and then
passed to the House.
Senatae 1913. Provides for the sus-
pension of the open season for hunt
ing when it shall appear to the Cover
nor that by reason of a drought exist
ing the use of fire arms is liable to
cause forest fires. The power to sus-
pend is in the hands of the Governor.
The bill is in the Senate Committee of
fish and game.
Senate 49. The bill to change the
deer hunting season and to provide
for the hunting of deer with dogs was
lost, but there is similar bill in the
House that has not been acted upon.
Assembly %. An act to prohibit any
person from erecting any fish pound
net in any of the waters of the Allan
tic Ocean within three miles of the
coast line or in Sandy Hook, Raritan
or Delaware bays. The bill is intro
duced to conserve the food fish and to
protect the sport of hand line fishing
as well as to remove great menace
to navigation caused by the poles
erected to hold the nets.
Assembly 35. An act to permit the