New Britain herald., 1916-01-11
24O NEW GAME LAWS
 ENACTED IN 1915
Nine States Bring Closed Seasons
 Into Agreement With Federal Law

Washington, D. C., Jan. 11.-More than 240 new game laws were ena ,t- l ed during 1915--a larger number than
 in any previous year except 1911, &C.,
 cording to Farmers Bulletin 692,
 "Game Laws for 1915" Forty three
 states held regular legislative sessions, 1 and in all of these states except Ari- l zona, Georgia and Nebraska some
 changes were made in the statutes ] protecting game. The largest number 1 of new game laws passed in any one 1 state was siXty-one, in North Caro- 1 lima; but in California, Connecticut Main, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsyl- vania and Wisconsin the number reached ten or more. Several meas llres were vetoed, including a general game bill in Idaho, the first bill ap-
 propriating the hunting license fund
 in Pennsylvania, a bill protecting
 bears in California, and three sections
 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 fed eral regulations. In at least nine
 
 brought the seasons into substantial agreement, viz, California, Connecti- cut, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and West Virginia In H. linois the seasons for all migratory birds except coot and waterfowl, and in Washington for the smaller shore birds, were made to conform with the regulations under the federal law Un- iformity was also secured by provi- l sions in the laws of Connecticut, ! Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, l Washington and Wisconsin, prohibit ing hunting between sunset and sum- i rise. On the other hand, Deleware l adopted a resolution opposing the mi gratory bird law, and Ohio and Rhode | Island, which had harmonized their | seasons in 1914, changed the seasons l on waterfowl this year.
 Legislation Against Aliens.
 As a result of the decision of the supreme court of the United States on January 19, 1914, sustaining the alien from hunting law of Pennsylvania, legislation prohibiting aliens from hunting or owning shotguns or rifles was enacted in at least four states M Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Da- kota and West Virginia-but cer- tain exceptions based on 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 mountain sheep was suspend ed in Idaho, Montana, and Washing ton and goats were protected until 1918 in Montana. Moose were pro- tecfP6 m Moi ho first absolute close season on this species for thirty-five years-since the suspension of hunting from 1878 to lSSO. Antelope were given indefinite in New Mexico and Mon- ana. In Michigan, New Mexico, and Oklahoma prairie chikens were pro- ected for several years. Michigan ex- tended complete protection also to quail, imported pheasants, grouse, and wood ducks for five years Minnesota protected doves, woodcock, blower and wood ducks until 1918. New Mexico gave protection to pheasants, bob whites, pigeons, and swans. Oklaho- ma protected doves, grouse, wood lucks, and curIew Several birds were removed from the game list and protected through the year. Okla loma gave such protection to peli-
 l clared ring-neck pheasants, buIlbats, 'obins, and meadowlarks to be non game birds In a few cases protection vas removed form certain species notably the Turkey buzzard in Dela- ware, Florida and North Carolina, owls and starlings in New Hampshire and corm orants in Illinois and North Dakota
 For the first time in twelve years moose hunting is permitted in Wy om1ng, and for the first time since 1907 prairie chicken shooting is per- mitted in Indiana
 Novel 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 in | the California law protecting spike bucks, or deer with unbranched horns instead of deer with horns of a cer- tain length; and the Wyoming experi- ment of allowing the killing of fifty bull moose under $100 licenses in stead of an indefinite number during limited season Methods of hunting were restricted in Michigan by pro- htbiting the use of autom obiles in
 pc'A u ioSOo etilQ III Iuulana Dy promoting the use of searchlights or other artificial lights attached to autos for hunting game on or near a hlghWay. Several new restrictions on shipments appeared for the first tlme illinois prohibited importation rom points outside the state of any game except deer legally killed Penn prohibited shipment of game by parcel post, and Wisconsin, ship ment under an alias. Connecticut au- thorized the commissioners of fisher les and game to grant permits to