Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-13
GAME BOARD PRESIDENT
 EXPLAINS HUNTING LAWS

". K. Nolan. president of the state board of fisheries and game. has is sued the following notice to Connec- ticut sportsmen relative to apparent discrepancies between federal and state laws regulating the killing of migratory birds:
 ''To the Sportsmen of Connecticut:
 There seems to be misunder- standing on the part of many of eur srortsmen in regard to apparent con- f1ict between the regulations of the Migratory Bird Treaty act and the Connecticut state laws. There should be none. because the conflict is only apparent to the casual reader of the laws; there is no disagreement in fact.
 Section z of the Migratory Bird Treaty act, approved July 3, 1918, That nothing in this act shall be con strued to prevent the several states and territories from making or en- forcing laws or regulations not in consistent with the provisions of said convention or of this act or from mak- ing or enforcing laws or regulations which shall give further protection to migratory birds, their nests and eggs, if such laws and regulations do not extent the open season for such birds beyond the dates approved by the president in accordance with Section 3 of this act
 "As to waterfowl-dlcks geese, etc. -the state law and the federal law coincide, the open season being from October to January 15 and the bag limit under both laws being 25 a day in the aggregate of all kinds.
 "On rail birds there is a difference in the seasonal limits. the open sea- son under the federal regulation be- ginning September 1, while by the Connecticut law it begins twelve days l later. The state law, because it does not conflict with the federal treaty law but only still further restricts the killing of the birds. becomes auto- matically the effective law for gum ners in this state.
 The same condition exists with relation to woodcock the state law shortening the federal law by two weeks. The former provides for ar open season from October to Nov ember 23.
 Tn the case of blower, yellow leg: and snipe our season opens two weeks later than the season prescribed by the federal regulation; ccnsequentlJ the Connecticut jaw is the one whict must be observed.
 | Cl LllC OldSI LtlS NOhll0CIISu limit for a bag of rail birds is 95 but the federal law sets the limit O 25. Here. of course. the federal linn, itation supersedes the state limit an( a. gunner must not exceed the limi Of 25 because the letter of the stat. law would give him no protection il case of a violation of the migrator! bird act.
 Tt works just the other way in tn case of the woodcock bag limits Tn, federal law allows six woodcoek to day's bag. But the Connecticut lav reduces this limit to five, and is valit and enforcible under the treaty ac because it gives added protection t the birds, a thing that the federal lav specifically empowers the state to dc
 An excellent thing for sportsmel to bear in mind is this simple rule That where there is a difference il seasons or bags as indicated by tn s-ate and federal laws it is always tn provision for the shorter season 0 the smaller bag that the Connection gunner must abide by.
 "The migratory bird law has al
 ready proven it's value, as shown b
 the increasing number of all kinds c
 birds of passage: we should do all i
 OUT power to help in it's enforcement
 not only for the benefit of spertsme
 but of the public at large, who's
 economic interest in the protection ( fhird life is only just beginning to b understood"