The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-12

Cambridge, Maryland.
Dear Sir:
At the annual meeting of the Dor
chester County Game and Fish Pro-
tective Association held in Cam
bridge, Md, on the evening of Feb.
/, bill was proposed for the pur-
pose of prohibiting the resale of
quail, (partridge) pheasant, and rab-
bit, vote was recorded on same
with a full attendance of members;
the vote stood 76 for the bill and
only II against. l resigned as presi-
dent OF this Association Jan. l, to
take effect at the annual election on
Feb. LIST, Mr.. James R. Jones being
elected president for the ensuing
year. l understand on my arrival
here Feb Sth, that there has been
some objection to this measure from
the brokers, or merchants, of our
city; there could not be any posi-
BILE objection from other sources, as
this bill is a fair measure, and does
not affect anyone except the mer-
chant or broker. This bill prohibits
the resale of the herein named
game, but does not prohibit the sale
for food purposes, as the party kill
ing said game can sell same, but
said game cannot be re-sold. The
farmer who raises the game can sell
same as heretofore, the sportsmen,
who, as a rule, hunts for pleasuI e
derived from same, can sell his
game if he has more than he can
use, the boy who traps rabbits can
still sell his game, but the merchant
who has no interest in the protection
or preservation of game cannot sell
same, hence he is the only party this
bill effects.
l honestly believe there are very
few farmers in our county today who
would allow any person to hunt on
their lands, with dog or gun, if they
knew said person was selling the
game killed on their property, and
am sorry to say great many of our
people who hunt have been attracted
to sell their game by the high prices
offered by our merchants for same.
The farmer grows the game and
gives it protection in the way of
furnishing wed for it while in the
sesaElxsta ol esd aid be-
lieve il there are any benefits to be
derived from same, he should be the
one to derive same. The Bob White
Quail is acknowledged by govern
ment experts to be the most useful
bird we have to the farmer, as he
destroys more injurious weed seeds
than all other birds known to our
climate, hence he should have pro-
lection from the farmer. Then,
again, he affords more sport to the
sportsmen than any bird that fiys, as
he is the gamest bird known in our
country today; there is nothing af-
fords the man who loves hunting as
much pleasure as a good bird dog,
and the Bob White, hence our
sportsmen should look after the pro-
lection of their favorite bird.
AS far as l am concerned, l have
no personal interest in the matter,
as | am sorry TO say have very lit
tie opportunity to hunt any more,
as my time is very limited for the
grand sport l love so well, but if l
never get the opportunity to go
afield again, 1 still have an interest
in the protection of game in my State
and county, and 1 appeal to the
sportsmen and farmers especially of
Old Dorset to urge upon your repre-
sentatives the passage of this fair
measure. AS have stated before, it
does not effect the parties who raise
and care for the game, nor does this
bill effect the person who wishes to
sell the game that he kills, but it
does effect the merchant, or broker,
who has no interest in the matter,
only from money or profit stand
point, hence the passage of this bill
will benefit many of our residents
and only be injurious to a few.
There are today only a few coun-
ties in our State allowing the sale or
resale of Quail, and there is not a
State in the Union allowing the sale
of Quail for resale. Then this be-
ing the case, the sportsmen of Dor
chester are surely not asking any
thing unreasonable, as 1 am sorry to
admit our grand old State is far be-
hind other States of the Union on
progressive game legislation, never
thelesS, it is not too late to realize
the fact that we must have progress
sive game legislation, or before long
our Sportsmen of the State will be
clamoring for a closed season on
our favorite bird, Bob White. I am
sorry to acknowledge some of the
counties of our State are requesting
same at present. We have one coun-
ty in the State closed until 1921, on
Quail, at present, and if the sports
men of our State do not take action
more counties will be compelled to
make same request.
As l have stated before, personal
ly, l have no interest only for the
protection of our game, as l do not
hunt but very little, and then only
for the exercise and sport, and,
thank God, l never did hunt for mar
ket, but l will appreciate a letter
from every farmer in our county adj
dressed to the representatives of the
General Assembly of Maryland of
Dorchester county, urging the pas
sage of this bill, which they have be-
fore them at present for considera-
ton. In conclusion, l beg to say
have always been for game protec-
ton, and always will be, no matter
what laws are passed to the con-
trary, as | believe it to be the best
interest of our State ohave protec-
tive laws, and would like to see the
time when every person was a pro-
tector of our famous Bob White,
then we would not need game laws,
nor game wardens
Very truly yours,
E. LEE LeCOMPTE.
2-12-tf. r. 2-13-tf.