The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-14
TREATY MADE To
PROTECT BIRDS
UNITED STATES AND ENGLAND
SIGN TREATY TO PROTECT MI
GRATORY BIRDS
STATE LAWS TO CONFORM TO TREATY
Changes In Many States-Laws to be
RigidIy Enforced in Every
State

State
The effectiveness of the movement
to protect migratory birds on the
North American Continent has been
greatly increased by the ratification
of a treaty between the United States
and Great Britain extending uniform
protection in the United States and
Canada to birds migrating between
the two countries. This is shown in
the annual publication of the Bureau
of Biological Survey of the department
relating to game laws, recently issued.
The publication, Game Laws for 1916,
is issued as Farmers Bulletin TIA.
Besides the ratification of the treaty
with Great Britain, the most import
ant occurrences during the past year
relating to the regulation of hunting
in the United States include the
change in classification Of West Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas,
Utah and Nevada, from the wintering
zoEe for migratory birds to the breed
ing zone, and the creation Of several
additional national parks and monu-
ments which become bird reservations.
In addition to changing regulations
issued by the President permit shoot
ing on the Mississippi river above Ne
braska City; open the season on GER
tain shore birds during the last two
weeks in August in New Jersey, Della
ware, Maryland, and Virginia, and on
reed birds on and after September l
in North Carolina ana Georgia; open
the waterfowl season somewhat earlier
in Massachusetts, New York, New Jer-
sey. South Carolina, and Georgia; pro-
hibit shooting of migratory birds in
every state after February /; pro-
tect wood ducks at all seasons through
out the United States instead of in
zone /; and protect shore birds in
California and woodcock in Kentucky
until 1913.
Two new national parks, one on
Mount Lassen, Cal, and the other on
Mount Kilauea, in Hawaii, were es-
tablished by Congress; bills were pass
ed accepting the session Of state juris-
diction over the Crater Lake, Oregon,
and Mount Rainier, Wash, National
Parks, with provision for resident com
missioners and enforcement of the
laws, and amending the Yellowstone
Park act so as to facilitate protection
of the>park and prevent poaching. Pro-
vision has also been made for the es-
tablishmem of game preserves on
lands purchased for the Appalachian
forest. Under Executive proclament
the Sieur de Monts National Monu-
ment of about 5000 acres on Mount
Desert Island in Maine was created on
July 8; and by Executive orders two
new bird reserve were established,
n on Goat Island, in San Francisco
Bay, Cal, on August 9, and the other
comprising four lakes on the Platte
reclamation project in Nebraska, on
August q.
As a result Of legislation in 1916, Vir-
ginia and Mississippi were added TO
the states having state officers to ad-
minister the game laws. All but two
states-Florida and Nevada-now
have such officials. During the year,
Virginia repealed all laws in conflict
with the Federal migratory-bird law.
Eleven states had previously made
their laws conform in whole or in part
to the Federal laws. These states are
California, Connecticut, Maine, Michi-
gan. New Hampshire, Tennessee, West
Virginia, Illinois, and Washington.
Under present conditions, the publ
cation shows. deer hunting is permit
ted in SO states, in about a third Of
which the hunter is limited to one
deer a season and in most others to
two. Sixteen states and Alaska pro-
tect and allow only bucks to be killed
namely, Alabama. Arizona, Califor-
MIA. Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Alaska.
Pennsylvania requires that deer killed
shall have horns 2 inches above the
hair; New Jersey, visible above the
hair; Utah, visible above the head:
New York, Vermont, and Alaska, ut
least 3 inches long: and West Virginia
4 inches long; while California pro-
nibits entirely the killing of spike
bucks.
Laws will be rigidly enforced in
every state under the new treaty laws