The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-22
NEW IAN LAWS

Regulations governing the taking OF
migratory birds, adopted as a resul,
of international action binding on the
United States and Canada, were pro
mulgated by the pr sident of the Unit
ed States on July 81. The new la y
gives effect to the terms Of the treaty
which effectually protects such birds
in most of the North American CONT
nent, and in the main there are only
slight changes in the law as it existed
before the treaty. Under its provi-
sions there is no spring open season,
and the fall open season is made more
uniform throughout the country. New.
ertheless, the several states have the
right under the terms of the act 10
make and enforce their own regula-
tiOns when these are not Inconsistent
with the Federal rulings, but such
state regulations may act only to at.
ford additional protection to migra-
tory birds, and not to extend the open
seasons beyond those just promulgat-
ed, nor to authorize methods of taking
birds not sanctioned in the Federal
act. The uniform open season in gen
eral covers the period between Sep
TENDER / and January 81, with a
period not exceeding 31a months for
individual species, though there are
IEliAht nynnntiAr. tA tbn-A - -
periods, as the shorebird season in
certain New England and Middle At
lantic states, which opens August 16.
and closes November 80. The sale of
migratory birds is prohibited except
of those propagated under permits is
sued by the Secretary of Agriculture,
and uniform bag limits are set for the
entire country. Sportsmen may not
ship more than 2 days bag limit in
any calendar week. At the same time
provision is made for the collection
OF birds for scientific purposes, and
under extraordinary conditions FEEDER
al permits may be issued to kill mi
gratory birds should they become in
furious to agricultural interests. Lib
eral provisions are included also for
the propagation Of migratory water
fowl on game farms and preserves,
and the sale of birds so bred and
reared is authorized as a part of the
program for increasing the good sup
ply. This paves the way for building
up an industry which has already
shown possibilities of marked success.
Many species of waterfowl can be
proitably raised in captivity, either
on land unsuited to farming or in con-
~nection with other farm operations.
The Department says that many
persons have been deferred from en-
gaging in this business because there
were no suitable laws governing or
fostering the enterprise. 1t is hoped
that this action by the Federal Gov.
eminent will lead to uniform and APP
propriate state legislation governing
game farming. Such legislation is
urgent because no migratory birds,
except those reared under permit, can
now be sold anywhere in the United
States.
The new law gives continuous pro-
lection to all insectivorous birds, band
tailed pigeons, cranes, wood ducks and
Older ducks, swans, curlew, upland
plover, and all shorebirds, except the
black-bellied and golden ~plovers, Viii,
son snipe or jack snipe, woodcock and
the greater and lesser yellowlegs, and
to certain nOn-game birds such as
auks. gulls, grebes, guillemots, herons,
looms, pufins, terms, and the like. No
night hunting is allowed, the killing
or capturing of migratory birds be-
tween sunset and a half hour before
sunrise being prohibited.
The open seasons for waterfowl lex
cept wood duck, elder ducks, and
swans), cOot, gallinules, and Wilson
snipe or jack snipe are as follows: In
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mas
~sachusetts, New York Except Long
Island), Pennsylvania. Ohio, West Vir
ginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan
Wisconsin, Illinois. Minnesota. Iowa
Missouri, North Dakota, South Dako-
ia, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado
Wyoming. Montana, Idaho, Nevada
and that portion of Oregon and Wash
ington lying east of the summit Of the
Cascade Mountains the open season is
from September Is to December 81,
In Rhode Island. Connecticut, Utah,
and that portion of Oregon and Wash
ington lying west Of the summit Of the
Cascade Mountains the open season
is from October / 20 January Is. In
that portion of New York known as
Long Island. and in New Jersey, Del
aware, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico,
Al~-- .-I C~l.c xAo