Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-27
j. 5. INQUIRIES INTO
REEDB|RD'S HABITS
Department of Agriculture Will
Send Representative to Della
ware Next Month.

The following letters have been received
from Senator Salisbury and Congr ssman
Polk by George {. Schuler, president OF
the Delaware Anglers and Gunners
Association, which explain themselves:
Dear MIR. Schulcr: Supplcmenting my
letter to You of yesterday relative to the
reedbird proposition, | send YOU herewith
letter have this morning from the acting
secretary of agriculture ON the subject,
which is sclf-explanatory.
II would probably bo good plan for
some of the officials of YOUR association
to have q definite course mapped out when
the expert from the department visits
Delaware in order to convince HIM OF the
desirahi!ity of the end sought by your
ASSOCIATION.
Yours very truly.
Willard Salisbury.
Hon Willard salisbury, chairman,
Committee on Coast and lnsular Survey,
United States Senate
Nv dear Senator Salisbury: Mr..
". W 1'errill has presented your letter
of August IN relation to an open season
for recdbrd shooting IN Delaware. AZ
the same time MIR Tcrrill has presented
petitions from citizens of Delaware.
stating that the reedbirds are found feed
state and requesting that the matter Ot
An open season on them be considered.
The recdhrd Is among those birds
continuously protected under the Mi
gratorv Bird Treaty with Great Britain,
except in cases where they become serI-
o,isv injurious TO agriculture when the
secretary of agriculture is authorized to
permit their destruction IN order to CON
troll their harmful activities IN expert
of the department will bed ctallcd 10 visit
Delaware early III September at the time
when rcedhIrds visit that state, for the
purpose Of studying the habits OF these
birds III order to determine their relations
t. agriculture and other interests. with
view to any action which It may he
considered proper to take.
Very truly yours,
Carl Nrooman,
Acting Secretary
Dear Mr. Schulcr | herewith enclose
letter from Hon Carl Nrooman. acting
secretary Of agriculture. which Is IN
reply 10 my letter of August - enclosing
Your letter To me
| trust that MIR NroOman $ letter may
bc of interest to Won and the action con
;emplatcd by the department may result
IN accomplishing the desires Of YOU and
your ASSOCIATION.
Very sincerely YOURS,
Nbcrt F. Polk
Hon Albert T Polk. House Of Repe-
sentatves
Dear MIR Polk Your letter of August
l., enclosing communication from Mr.
George G. Schulcr president. Delawa re
Anglers and Gunners ASSOCIATION has been
received In Mr. Schulcrs letter the
request is made that a permit be issued
Tor shooting reedbrds on account Of their
injury to rice fields and other agricultural
interests MANY wears ago leed5irds were
injurious To the rlcc fields Of the Caro-
lInas but with the disappearance Of rice
growing as an important industry IN that
region, complaints. .ol the dcprrdatlons Of
recdhirdS ceased
The department viii detail ono Of its
experts to visit Delaware when the
rcedbirds VISIT that State IN September,
for the purpose Of studying the habits
of these birds in relation to agriculture
and other Interests there. with q vIcw %
any action which II might he considered
proper To take
Very truly yours
Carl Nrooman.
Acting Secretary
The association has appointed Edward
G. Bradford. Jr. and Albert L. Dlllahay
Of Dover to meet the representative from
the Agricultural Department when he
comes 10 Delaware for his visit Ia study
the rccdbrds These men who arc
interested in the game ASSOCIATION OF this
state arc capable oi giving all the data
that the expert from the Agriculture
Department NAV desire. and their knowl-
edge Of these birds may be great help
IN getting the desired results
Any sportsman who may have any
suggestions or desires any information on
this question, the association would be
pl eased to take up with them.
The law as It stands now Is that IT is
unlawful to shoot reedblrds under a fine
of $500 or two years Imprisonment or
both