Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-09-05
NEW GAME LAWS BASED on
u. S.-CANADIAN TREATY

Regulations governing the taking
Of migratory birds, adopted as re-
suit of international action binding
on the United States and Canada,
we're promulgated by the president
of the United States on July 81. The
new law gives effect 20 the terms Of
the treaty which effectually protects
such birds in most Of the North
American continent, and in the main
there are only slight changes in the
laws as 1t existed before the treaty.
Under its provisions there is no
spring open season, and the fall open
icason is made more uniform in this
country. Nevertheless, the several
states have the right under the terms
Of the act to make and enforce their
own regulations when these are not
inconsistent with the federal rulings
hut such state regulations may act
only to afford additional protection
10 migratory birds, and not to extend
the open seasons beyond those just
promulgated, nor to authorize meth
DDS Of taking birds not sanctioned
IN the federal act.
The uniform open season, in gen.
eral, covers the period between Sep
tcmber l and January 81. with a
period not exceeding 31s months for
individual species, though there are
slight exceptions to these dates and
periods, as the shore. birds season
in certain New England ard middle
Atlantic states, which opens August
16 and closes November 80. The
sale of migratory birds is prohibited
except Of those propagated under
permits issued by the secretary of
agriculture, and uniform bag limits
dre set for th,-entire country. Sports
men may not ship more than two
days bag Limit in any calendar week.
At the same time provision is made
for the collection Of birds for scien-
tific purposes, and under eXtraordin-
ary conditions federal permits may
be issued to kill migratory birds
should they become injurious to ag-
ricultural interests. a
Liberal provisions are included al
so for the propagation of migratory
waterfowl on game farms and pre-
serves, and the sale of birds so bred
and reared is authorized as a part
of the program for increasing the
food supply. This paves the way for
building up an industry which has
already shown possibilities of mark
cd success. Many species of water
fcwl can be profitably raised in cap
tivity, either on land unsuited to
farming or in connection with other
farm operations,
The department says that many
persons have been deferred from en-
caging in this business because there
were no suitable laws governing or
fostering the enterprise. 1t is hoped
that this action by the federal gov
ernment will lead to uniform ana
rpprcpriative state legislation gov
c"ning game farming. Such legis-
latlon is urgent, because no migra-
tory birds, except those reared un-
der permit, can now be sold any
where in the United States.
The new law gives continuous pro-
lection to all insectivorous birds,
'and-tailed pigeons, cranes, wood
lucks and elder ducks, swans, cur
cw, upland plover and golden plov-
srs, Wilson snipe or jack snipes,
wood cock, and the greater and less
:" yellowlegs, and to certain nom
'ame birds, such rs auks, gulls,
rebes, guillemots, herons, looms puff
ms. erns and the like.
No night hunting is allowed, the