The sun., 1918-08-26
Drouse Hearings To-day and Tomorrow.


ALBANY. Aug. 26.--To close the season
for ruffed grouse shooting in this state
or not to close II will be decided by the
Conservation Commission after a number
be held in order to give all persons an
, Cpl of expressing their views on
The commission is taking this action as
tions which havo been received from
RR1a sns ?s STAT. s''s on di Tas%
grouse or partridge"
The hearings will be held at two
places on Monday: Office of the Conser-
walton Commission. Room 1901. Times
Building, New York city, and court houses
Conservation Commission. 1873 State street
Albany. and court houses at Utica and
Rochester.
According to Commissioner Pratt. there
has heen an alarming decrease In the num-
her Of grouse in the state. to a point
termination. state game protectors he
saws. in their daily game census work,
have found the birds to have been stead
lily diminishing during the past two or
three years.
Although the few remaining birds seem
to have had successful nesting season
this year. the commission feels that a
two year closed season which would give
them immunity over three nesting sea-
sons. is highly desirable.
This, coupled with the Commissions al
ready inaugurated plan for more strin-
gent warfare upon the partridge's natural
enemies. should give them a chance to get
on their feet again.
II. as result Of the sentipent ex-
pressed at the hearings. the commission
determines that the partridge requires
additional protection the law provides that
such protection may be granted by the
hled with the county clerk and published
In a newspaper Of every county affected
effect.
Railbird and State Conservation Law.
Your article In THE Sun OF August IS
under the heading "Railbird Time opens
on September 1" was read with interest
but will l fear lead many sportsmen to
OF New York by shooting rail before the
18th of September. the opening day.
The conservation law provides as fol-
section cls. Railbirds: open season,
limit. l. Open season. Rails. American
coots, mud hens and gallinuies may be
to December 81. both inclusive.
-. Limit, person may take during
the open season not to exceed fifteen OF
In one day Whenever two or more per
sons are occupying the same boat or
blind. not to exceed twenty OF such birds
kinds in one day by such persons"
The migratory bird treaty act regula-
tions provide that 1.-THE open season for
sora and other rails except coot and
gallinules) shall be from September to
November 49, except as follows: In
Louisiana the open season shall be from
November to January 81"
The right of the different States to
frame and enforce additional laws for the
better conservation OF migratory birds
within their limits has never been re-
linquished and IL universally recognized.
but while no state can legally authorize
the shooting of migratory birds save in
regulations, any state can frame and en-
force laws which shorten the said open
seasons as an additional protective
Amy person, therefore, who In the State
Of New York shoots railbirds before the
18th OF September will be violating the
the State game protectors and to be fined
for such violation.
The conservation law also states in
section III: Manner of taking fish and
game. /. Manner OF taking game Game
protected by law shall only be taken in
the day time after sunrise and before
sunset" &c And modihes the conditions
Of Regulation 4. Water fowl may be
taken each day from half an hour before
sunrise to sunset during the open seasons"
&c. so that u person shooting before
sunrise will be violating the conservation
law.
One further criticism. In your article
rail" and the Carolina rail" or "sora" are
the two which are regarded as the sports
mans birds, for though have been
shooting all my life have never seen a
king rail" outside Of collections
The .soro" Is the raiibird of all writer's
and is most deiiciops eating when In good
condition after a few days OF feeding on
wild rice.
The virginia rail" and even the yellow
rail" have frequently shot, but have
yet to see the king rail" or the little
black rail" though have specimen of
the little black rail- in my collection
which was shot at Jamaica, L. l.. in 1879
ROBERT b. LAWRENCE.
Secretary New York Association for tho
Protection OF Game.
80 cedar street. Aug 20.
Hammers Set New Record on Distance Fly.
At tho last OF the midweek summer
series of casting events OF the Anglers
Club OF New York, held on Wednesday
at the big lake, Central Park. the follow
ing scores were made:
Dry Fly Accuracy-Won by + c. Henry,
30 S-l5 per cent: a, II. Hammers second
IS 1918 per cent.
Three ounce Distance Fly--Won by A.
r. Hammers. scratch: longest cast, 80 feet:
average, 80 2-5 feet; c. II. Highly. second
longest cast, 30 feet average, 81 feet I;
handicap . $40 feet; average SO $40 feet
In the latter event n new worlds record
was established by Mr.. Hammers OF 90
feet, both In the longest cast and average
Of live casts. the previous record having