The sun., 1916-10-22
IMPORTANT CHANGES
IN 1915 GAME LAWS
Eleven States and Five Cana.
dian Provinces Pass Pro-
gressive Legislation.
NEW JERSEYS NOVEL ACT

WARRINGTON. Oct. 21.-T. S. Palmer.
W. F. Bancroft and Frank l.. Earnshaw
OF the Biological Survey OF the Depart-
nent OF Agriculture have Just completed
Their work in connection with Farmers
Bulletin ia which deals with the
game laws for 1915.
This pamphlet IL looked forward TO
with pleasur" ny hunters because of its
scope in connection with game. touching
on new laws. seasons. Export. sale. limits
and licenses.
The game legislation of 1915 was small
ia volume. only about ninety laws
having been passed In the eleven states
and Ave Canadian provinces which held
legislative sessions this year. These
states include Georgia. Kentucky, Louis
ANA, Maryland. Massachusetts, Missis-
eippt. New Jersey. New York.. Rhode
Island. South Carolina and Virginia.
Although fewer game laws were
enacted than last year the record con.
tains several progressive measures.
In Federal legislation the chic lu4
terest Is naturally centred in the treaty
with Great Britain for the protection OF
migratory birds in the United States and
Canada, ratified on August 30.
several acts relative to national parks
were passed and sew . | executive proc
dtll OTueTS -st'P issued nmeet-
Ing game. Among the litter probably
the one of most general interest is the
proclamation containing the new regu-
lations for the protection of migratory
birds.
The amended regulations. r.a:'.
adopted and approved on August Il,
and htScd on the experience gained
durinr he two years since the reKu-
latic'. w,r, last amended. were pre-.
FIAVI 90 ln
i,Iany suggestions received from all parts
OF the country.
Progress In state Legislation.
The principal changes are as follows
Transfer OF six States-West Virginia.
Kentuc!". Mssouri. Kansas. Utah and
Nevada-from the southern zone to the
northern zone. making thirty-one States
in zone | and seventeen in zone . per-
hitting shooting on the Mississippi River
above Memphis and on the Missouri.
River above Nebraska City opening the
season or certain shore birds during the
las ~" weeks in August in New Jersey.
pe.gwn e Ma 'ylaud and Virginia and on
reed birds on and after September IN
North Carolina and Georgia opening the
WatcrI WI season somewhat earlier In
Macs Al~etts. New York. New Jersey,
SpGt Carolina and Geo gia prohibiting
snou;tnG ~ migratory birds In every
State after February l 4; protecting wood
ducks at all seasons throughout the
United States instead OF In zone | and
prot. citing shore birds In California and
woodcock in Kentucky until 1918.
In State legislation more progress was
probably made in Virginia and Miss.s.
sippi than elsewhere. as In each OF these
States the office OF Game and Fish Com
missioner was created. and resident IL
lenses. game protection funds and way
den service provided
This leaves only two States-Florida
and Nevada-with no State officer to ad-
minister the game laws.
In Mississippi. as in Alabama. the
ONCE OF State Game and Fish Commits
sioner IL made elective after the term OF
the first incumbent expires. while in Vir-
gtnia the work of game protection Is
placed in charge Of the commissioner o.
fisheries. under the title Of Commissioner
OK Game and Inland Fisheries.
Maryland created a conservation COM
mission and placed the administration
OF game laws under its charge In Lou
isiana a reorganization resulted in the
substitution of "A single commissioner In
charge of the department Of conserva-
tion in lieu Of a conservation commits
sion OF three members.
Kentucky protected deer and elk until
"A' we y tbh "
ported pheasants and Hungarian part
ridges until 1920 and removed woodcock
from the game list.
Maryland protected deer and elk for
six years. o doves from the game
list. and adopted the American Orni-
biologists Union model law for the pro-
lection OF non-game birds.
In Canada. Manitoba protected swan,
pelican. cormorant. whooping crane.
wood duck, Hungarian partridge and in
troduce species until 1920, and On
tario closed the season on grouse. prairie
fowl and partridge until 1918. and caper-
catlsie 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 feld-prohibiting a person from
voing Into the woods or fields with Are
arms when under the influence Of any
dug or Intoxicating liquor. and that OF
New York making It unlawful to pursue
hocks Of ducks In fresh water In such
. as to drive them away from
the neighborhood.
Ymportant Biz Game Changes.
The changes affecting big game we're
not numerous. but a few we're important.
Georgia and Mississippi repealed their
doe laws, thus permitting deer Of either
se1 to be killed New Jersey protected
does and fawns, and permits one deer
with horns visible above the hair to be
killed by each hunter: In Alaska under
regulations OF the department only deer
having horns three inches or moro 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 Rail-
road from Utica to Ogdensburg.
In Alaska protection on moose and
sheep on the Renal Peninsula was ex-
tended for two years. and goats were
protected for two years.
In Canada, Nova Scotia permits deer
hunting this season for the first time by
providing an open season on bucks dur
ing the last eleven days of October ex-
cept on Cape Breton Island. Deer have
extended their range to Nova Scotia
comparatively recently. One of the first
recorded was killed at Liscomb Lake in
December, 1886.
Manitoba heightened the season five
days on big game but opened the season
on November 90. ten days earlier than
formerly. while Ontario heightened the
deer season two weeks tnorth OF the
main line Of the Canadian Pacifc) and
shifted the season on moose and caribou.