The sun., 1918-08-25
GROUSE SHOOTING
SPORT OF LONG AGO
Evils That Caused Scarcity Of
Prolific Partridge
Family.
HEARINGS BEGIN MONDAY
NJ sYL.

Harking back to the days Of long
ago. when one could shoulder bis
breech loader with q degree Of GER
tainty and step into the open and enjoy
a good days sport with his dog, bag
ging all the law allowed Of partridge
most anywhere no chose to wander.
makes one ueed to good cunning con-
ditions" shudder to the marrow when he
comes face to face with the demoralixed
small game shooting conditions as they
are to-day.
Throughout the States which como
within the range OF the partridge belt"
and that was practically everywhere in
all States east of the Mississippi and
south of Greenland TO the Gulf of
Mexico. there has been In times past
good partridge or ruffed grouae shoot
Ing. In some Of the States It has been
what one might call excellent" But
that condition is known only to those Of
US who traversed the side hills and the
woodland clearings more than n decade
ago.
In those days It was not an uncom-
mon thing in "trouting tins" to hear
the cock OF the woods drumming on a
fallen log for his queenly hen. One
could not travel many miles along the
banks Of the brooks ami streams that
this familiar roll was not heard every
little while in the early hours Of the
morning. and quite often the rapid whir
startled one from his reveries during
these peregrinations.
The woods in spring were always
alive with such sounds, ana in the DAYS
OF midsummer one could not drive over
country highways without coming in
contact with one or more hens with
broods crossing the dusty roads or see
oil hxy
the roadside or mufiling in a dust hole
by some sheltered stone wall
Partridge Most Prolific Family.
At that time the natural resources
or this noble game bird were not ques-
toned 1t was generally conceded that
Mr. and Mrs Partridge were quite able
to take care OF themselves and their in
crease for it was widely scattered and
most prolific family.
Sportsmen were at a loss to under
stand why good side hill and upland
cover" should become deserted by this
grand bird. The scarcity became noticed
about ten years ago and annually in
creased in visibility until to-day one
has to use magnifying glass to ind
much more than a trace Of partridge
hereabout
luz "oouo uO lOHSeT TlnB WIN the
drumming and a microphone would
hardly detect the whir Of a sudden rise
and flight.
Those who know best the nature of
the beast" and the nature Of some men
make no excuses, but drive directly to
the evil and point out to the laxity Of
the law and downright stubborn igno-
rance Of legislators when conservation
lists and Fish and Game Commissioners
ask for special privileges and special
funds to accomplish special things for
the especial benefit of all concerned.
Political pressure Is too often brought
to bear on upstate members by down
state dontcareadamns. and It rs very
discouraging for any one with right
ideas and right principles to undertake
to make overtures to those with I'M
scrupulous principles who think fish
and game commissioners and conserva-
ton commissioners -are holding down
soft jobs" and spending the public
money to protect foolshness when ma
ture can protect itself.
Man mt Fault.
Some hunters are cautious enough to
go through life like the busy bee and
store up the honey for the winter time
OF their discomfort They are liberal
order to supply the larder and obtain
a GOOD days sport
There are others. however. who pass
theft days. like the grasshopper. FEAST
ing on the present to their fill and think
ing not of the morrow. And there are
others SO thoughtless and disintereeted
who feel 50 safe in their. own security
that they only think of locking the
stable door after the thief has walked
in and walked off with the "old mare"
presume there are some OF these
men who hunt that have hideous night
mares when they throw themselves
down on the bunk at night after a
fruitless day afield. One In lucky these
days to bring to bag a single brace to
pay for the pains of time, trouble and
expense. and rather blame the dog.
for his poor work than blame himself
for his own shortsightedness. They are
not generous enough to think OF con-
ditions as they were and as they are
and say IT, too. am to blame" And
yet man Is at fault.
Some hunters who think they know
find consolation In attributing the great
scarcity of cartridges to the inroads
made upon them by vermin. That cry has
been taken up and seems to satisfy the
thirst for knowledge good many have.
My answer to that cry is the vermin is
man.
While II is true that vermin do make
inroads In the productiveness OF the
partridge, the woods will never be 80
full of vermin as to cause the near
determination of this prolific and noble
game bird. The dangerous vermin has
been mere man. and 1t will always be 80
until that time comes when protective
laws are made and enforced against him.
Man with a modern gun: man with
snares and traps man Insulated with
market greed, and the man with no limit
but the sky above; man without laws
that would check his culpability with
adequate and severe penalty for his
wrongdoings and man in the assembly
halls of our States who doesn't know
enough to listen to words of wisdom and
act accordingly.
In connection with this Species" we
have snakes, skunks hawks. foxes. Jays.
martens and occasional stray house cats,
each of which will be taken UP in an
other instalment to follow.
Law Needed to Protect.
What we want Is law in good and
sufficient quantity and quality to pro-
tect. There is only one way out Of the
dilemma provisions for a closed time
on partridge for a period OF three to
FIVE years and a penalty stifr enough
to make a man think twice before he will
violate the law.
The partridge under such circum-
stances will come back to his own and
1t won't take long before things will be
as they were in the good old days a
decade or 30 back.
Hearings to place closed season on
partridge for two years will be held at