Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
slider one half OF the protection o, our


birds.
Under tho present state law. the gun
ner has shooting season OF about
three months. which season the super
N!SorS OF the respective counties arc a,
liberty 10 shorten should they deem II
best.
on tho other hand. the sunncr's COM
petitive huntcrs---na!ncl the hawk, the
owl. the crow. the mink, the weasel and
Hariousiy other carnivorous animals and
bros OF nrey-hunt not only the grown
aIs9 oeStroy the csc ana young as we'll
The large hocks OF partridge that
were In comparatively recent years
round along the low and open lands Of
the upper james River valley exist now
only i'll memory in coinpar ison TO those
existing ten or more years ago. This
is due. believe, almost entirely TO the
increasing number OF hawks, etc.
which have, and are still. taking ad-
where there is so li,,lc protective cover
for the partridge Besides. there are
1hoqsanda OF EGGS deatroyed eE tho
c!a!!y by the latter. The disappointed
pairs whose eggs have been destroyed.
!, ~ true, MI attempt a second nest,
again IN Il similar manner.
Tn. farmer must be educated to real
IL" Ins prime importanc. Of cxtermi-
GUS animals and birds OF prey. This
interest can he brought about cnec-
lively only b. such snducements as
valuation OF the scalps.
The future Of the game birds. 10 a
certain degree. rests with the sports
man. lawn. hcr and farmer. the latter
or which should also be educated 10
create an interest In the protection OF
ihe BIRDS from starvation and. consc-
qu"ntt%. freezing during the severe
winter months. but. IN my estimation.
ms discrimination Of the apove-mcn-
toned birds and animals OF prey would
be al least onc-half Of the battle.
SO much for the former abundance
OF our Virginia game birds and their
present day diminished and sim diinin-
TO chcCn the approach Of extinction
and what PROSPECT does the future hold
!or ultimate success III our game bird
rrcScrrat!oH'
10 'hc advocates OF bird protection that
rcli'tnce could not he placed upon State
anh !pcaI regulations 10 govern maa
oAiy but That there were other protec-
wv" measures neccssary-ilaueiy tho
purcnas. by counties OF scalps at a
given set price. This local protection.
which was left 10 the consideration OF
me county supervisors. as / understand
~, mas proven a failure, SO far as the
continuation NJ the !aw Is concerned
~ WAS not because IL did not prove a
good law that 1t WAS discontinued in
many oil the counties. but. since it was
not stat. Law. there were many
counties which brought about cons,d-
cradle imposition upon other adjoining
counties. For example: "A certain county
~.
"hlle, on the other hand. several other
counties decided tha, they would dis
continue the law. What did this mean?
simply that hundreds Of scalps were
brought into this particular county
from adjoining counties and sold
thereby creating. such an injustice that
,hcy nave all practically abolished this
most effective protection 10 game.
IN conclusion. ! should like to state
That. in my opinion. the only safe and
effective remedy for this scalp law"
Is TO make an amendment OF the pres
emit law. and thereby make il a state
law"
70. those living in tho country. who
are IN position 10 study and UNDER
stand the existing conditions. il is evil
neht that the decrease in numbers OF
the game birds has not been due prin-
cipaily 10 excessive shooting; that the
present scalp law. as il exists has
proven Inadequate Ia check this dimi-
mutton; that the only hope for a sue
ccssini preservation Of the partridge
and other such birds lies in "Sta.e" leg
!Slatlon, not only of the game l,w IA
IT now stands. but that with a wiso
scalp law" wisely administered and
with an awakened and enlightened NIB
nc sentiment To meet these particular
hccus. tncre is every reason to believe
that the game bird will again become
common enough TO cniivcn the open
iarfn and woodlands with their welcome
presence. and to afford the hunter n
Iair amount OF legitimate sport to saw
nothinE OF the benefit to be derived bv
the farmer from the replenishinr of
these most valuable insectivorous hirde
w. II. MOSS.