Evening journal., 1916-10-25
IMPORTANT Chances
IN 1916 Game Laws
Eleven States and Five Cana
dian Provinces Pass Pro-
gressive Legislation
NEW JERSEY
HAS NOVEL ACT

" AOAAAAN0A 0ANH wv ~Nf
mer W. +. Bancroft and Frank l..
Earnshaw. of the Biological Survey
OF the Department of Agriculture have
lust completed their work in connec-
ton with Farmers Bulletin lt4,
which deals with the game laws Tor
1916.
This pamphlet is looked forward TO
with pleasure by hunters because Oh
its scope in connection with game
touching on new laws, seasons eA-
port. sale, limits and licenses
The game legislation of 1916 was
small in volume, only about ninety
laws having been passed in the eleven
States and five Canadian provinces
which held legislative sessions THIS
year These states include Georgia,
Kentucky. Louisiana, Maryland, Mas
sachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey
New York. Rhode Island, South Caro-
lima and Virginia.
Although fewer game laws were
enacted than last year the record con-
tains several progressive measures.
In Federal legislation the chief in
terest is naturally centered in the
treaty with Great Britain for the pro
lection OF migratory birds in the Uni
ed States and Canada. ratified on Au-
gust 20.
Several acts relative to national
parks were passed and several execu-
tive proclamatiOns and orders were
issued affecting game. Among the
latter probably the one Of most gen
aral interest is the proclamation con
aiming the new regulations for the
protection of migratory birds.
The amended regulations, finally
adopted and approved on August q,
and based on the experiences gained
during the two years since the regu-
lations were last amended. were pre-
pared after careful consideration OF
many suggestions received from all
parts of nc country.
Progress in State Legislation.
The principal changes are as fol
lows:
ginia, Kentucky. Missouri, Kansas.
Utah and Nevada-from the southern
zone TO the northern zone, making
thirty-one States in zone ! and sew
enteen in zone Q: permitting shooting
on the Mississippi River above Mem
phis. and on the Missouri River, above
Nebraska City; opening the season
on certain shore birds during the last
Two weeks in August in New Jersey.
Delaware. Maryland and Virginia and
On reedbirds on and after September
in North Carolina and Georgia; OPP
ening the waterfowl season somewhat
earlier i'm Massachusetts, New YORK,
New Jersey. South Carolina and
Georgia: prohibiting shooting of mi
gratory birds i'm every state after
February / protecting wood ducks at
all seasons throughout the United
States instead OF in zone I: and pro
tecting shore birds in California and
woodcock i'm Kentucky until 1918.
In State legislation more progress
was probably made in Virginia and
Mississippi than elsewhere. as in each
OF these States the Office Of Game and
Fish Commissioner was created. and
resident licenses. game protection
funds and warden service provided
This leaves only two States-tlor-
ida and Nevada-with no State officer
to administer the game laws.
In Mississippi. as in Alabama. the
Office of State Game and Fish Com
missioner is made elective after the
term of the first incumbent expires,
while in Virginia the work of game
UIOlNNllOM - UAdAtAA III AhtAA % Va AAN
commissioner OF fisheries. under the
title Of Commissioner of Game and
Inland Fisheries.
Maryland created a conservative
commission and placed the admins
tration OF game laws under its
charge: in Louisiana a reorganization
resulted in the substitution of single
commissioner in charge of the de-
partment Of conservation in lieu OF a
conservation commission Of three
members.
Kentucky protected deer and elk
until 1921: wild turkeys native and
imported pheasants and Hungarian
cartridges until 1920; and removed
woodcock from the game list.
Maryland protected deer and elk for
SIX years. removed doves from the
game list, and adopted the American
Ornithologists Union model law for
tho protection OF non-game birds.
In Canada Manitoba protected
swan. pelican. cormorant. whooping
crane. wood duck. Hungarian par
fridge and introduced species until
1920. and Ontario closed the season
on grouse. prairie fowl and partridge
until 1915. and capercailzie until 1920.
Among the novel acts for the year
may be mentioned that Of New Jer-
sey-in an effort to prevent accidents
in the field-prohibiting a person from
going into the woods or field with
firearms when under the influence Of
any drug or intoxicating liquor. and
that Of New York making il unlawful
10 pursue flOcks Of ducks in fresh
water in such a manner as to drive
them away from the neghborhood.
Important Big Game Changes.
The changes affecting big game
were not numerous. but a few were
important. Georgia and Mississippi
repealed their doe laws. thus permit
ting deer OF ether sex to be killed ;
New Jersey protected does and fawns.
and permits one deer with horns Wis
ible above the hair to be killed by
each hunter; in Alaska under regula-
tons OF the department only deer hav-
ing horns three inches or more in
length may be killed
New York opened the season on
deer in Oneida. Lewis and Jefferson
counties west of the Utica and Black
River Railroad from Utica to Ogdens-
burg.
In Alaska protection on moose and
sheep on the Kenai Peninsula was
extended for two years. and goats
were protected for two years.
IN Canada. Nova Scotia permits