The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-23
brand new GAME
LAWS ARE ISSUED
PROMULGATED BY PRESIDENT
WHO RECENTLY SIGNED
They Came Out Of International
Action; Sportsmen Are
Interested
Especial to Free Press.I

Especial to Free Press.1
| Washington, ID. G., August 49,
Regulations governing the taking Of
migratory birds, adopted as a result
of international action binding or
the United States and Canada, were
promulgated by the president of the
United States on July 81. The new
law gives effect to the terms of the
treaty which effectually protects
such birds in most of the North
Amt lean continent, and in the mair
there are only slight changes in the
law as it existed before the treaty
Under it's provisions there is nc
spring open season, and the fall opeI
season is made more uniform
throughout the country. Nevertheless
the several states have the right un
der the terms of the act to make and
enforce their own regulations when
these are not inconsistent with the
federal rulings, but such state regu-
lations may act only to afford addi-
tional protection to migratory birds
and not to extend the open season be-
yond those just promulgated, nor to
authorize methods of taking birds
not sanctioned in the federal act
Main Features of New Law.
The uniform open season in gener-
al covers the period between Sept
ember 1 and January 81, with peri
cd not exceeding three and one half
months for individual species
though there are slight exceptions to
these dates and periods, as the
shorebird season in certain New
England and Middle Atlantic states
which opens August 16 and closes
November 90. The sale of migratory
birds is prohibited except of those
propagated under permits issued by
the secretary of agriculture, and un-
form bag limits are set for the en-
tire country. Sportsmen may not ship
more than two days bag limit in any
calendar week
At the same time provision is
made for the collection of birds for
scientific purposes, and under extra
ordinary conditions federal permits
may be issued to kill migratory birds
should they become injurious to ag
INulIuTdl luIeTeSJS,
Provide for Game Farms.
Liberal provisions are included al
so for the propagation of migratory
waterfowl on game farms and pre-
serves, and the sale of birds so bred
and reared is authorized as part
of the program for increasing food
supply. This paves the way for
building up an industry which has
already shown possibilities of mark
ed success. Many species of water
fowl can be profitabfy raised in cap
tivity, either on land unsuited to
farming or in connection 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 of
fostering the enterprise. 1t is hoped
that this action by the federal gov
eminent will lead to uniform and
appropriate state legislation govern
ing game farming. Such legislation
is urgent because no migratory birds,
except those reared under permit,
can now be sold anywhere in the
United States.
Some Wholly Protected
The new Jaw gives continuous
protection to all insectivorous birds,
band tailed pigeons, cranes, wood
ducks and elder ducks, swans, curlew,
upland plover, and all shorebirds, ex-
cept the black bellied and golden
plovers, Wilson snipe or jack snipe,
wood cock and the greater and lesser
yellowlegs, and 10 certain non game
birds such as auks, gulls, grebes,
guillemots, herons, looms, puffins, terms
and The liEe.
No night hunting is allowed, the
killing or capturing of migratory birds
between sunset and a half hour be-
fore sunrise being prohibited.
The Open Seasons
The open seasons under the new
regulations arc as follows:
The open seasons for waterfowl Eek
cept wood duck, elder ducks, and
swans), coot, gallinules, and Wilson
snipe or jacksnipe are as follows:
In Maine, New Hampshire, YER
mont, Massachusetts, New York
Except Long Island), Pennsylvania,
Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, In
diana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Minnesota, Iowa Missouri, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho,
Nevada and that portion of Oregon
and Washington lying east of the
summit of the Cascade Moutains tho
open season is from September 16 to
December 81.
In Rhode Island, Connecticut, Utah
and that portion of Oregon and
Washington lying west of the summit
of the Cascade Mountains the open
season is from October 1 to jan
uary Is.
In that portion of New York known
as Long Island. and in New Jersey,
Delaware, Oklahoma, Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, and California the
open season is from October 16 to
January 81.
In Maryland, the District of Co.
lumbia, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Arkansas, and Louisiana the open
season is from November 1 to Janu-
airy 81; and in Alaska the open season
is from September l to December Is.
The open season for sora and
other rails Except coot and GALL
nules) is from September to Novem-
Der 80, except as follows:
In Louisiana the open season is
from November 1 to January 81.
Season Tor PIovers
g. =