Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-06-17
PROTECTION OF WILD FOWL.
As World Grows More Civilized Bird
Life ls Increasing.

Life Is Increasing.
Possibly migratory birds will never
gain be seen in such vast flocks as
when the early settlers pushed their
way westward, but the United States
Biological Survey believes that their
numbers are now increasing year by
year. Interest in their preservation is
we'll justified when it is considered that
sheir value as food and for other eco
nomic purposes amounts to many mil
lions annually. Growth OF sentiment
for the conservation Of game-birds has
been notable in the last half-century'
we are told. To quote recent press
bulletin of the United Staes depart
ment Of agriculture.
I'm 1900 only nine states had laws
prohibiting all-spring shooting, while
in 1918 there were thirty-one. Only
three states now afford no legal pro-
lection. Uniform and adequate prescr-
vation was first given attention by the
Federal government in 1904, when a
bill was introduced in congress, but
failed to become law. The subject
however, was kept before congress al
most continuously until thu enactment
of the migratory bird law in 1918.
This Federal statute merely con-
ferred on the United States department
of agriculture the power to fix closed
seasons during which it would be un-
lawful to capture or kill migratory
birds. This law did not provide for ef-
fective enforcement, but it exerted a
wonderful influence upon the pubic
mind, and it's passage laid the real
foundation for more adequate protec-
ton. Fully 95 per cent Of the sports
men abided by the regulations estab-
lished under this law and refrained
from shooting during the closed sea-
sons.
THE result was almost instantane-
GUS. Waterfowl and other migratory
game birds not only showed at once
marked increase in number, but owing
to the cessation of spring shooting, re-
n.ained unmolested in ever-increasing
numbers to breed in places from which
formerly they had been driven every
spring by incessant cunning. AT the
end of the five years during which this
law was in operation, state game com-
missioners and leading sportsnen were
unanimous in their express
sion that wild fowl were more abund-
ant than ct any time in the preceding
twenty-five years.
Tho marked improvement under
this law instillcd now spirit into the
a advocates Of bird conservation, and
showed the wonderful possibilities un-
der a Federal law broad and compre-
hensive enough not only to protect the
birds during the mating and breeding
season, but to equalize hunting privi-
leges and opportunities by more uni
form state laws.
ITO protect birds further, treaty
affecting birds migrating between this
country and Canada was concluded in
1915 between the United States and
Great Britain. Altogether 5S7 species
Of migratory birds are included in the
various families protected by the
treaty. 1t provides for continuous pro-
lection for migratory insect-eatlrS
birds and certain other migrating non
game birds and protection for five ard
ten years for certain migratory game
birds. The hunting season for otaer
migratory game-birds is limited to
period not exceeding three and one
half months between September 1 and
March 10 Of each year, except shore-
birds in certain northeastern states,
where such hunting season must be be-
tween August 16 and February 1. Reg
ulations promulgated under the Get OF
congress approved July 3, 1918, to give
effect to the treaty, establish open sea-
sons on shore birds in such north
eastern states from August Is to NO
yember 80, and with this exception no
migratory game birds can be hunted
in the United States between February
l and September 15, inclusive, OF each
year. The treaty docs not, however, in
clude some valuable birds, such as
Quail, pheasants, grouse. and wild tur-
KEYS. These still remain wholly within
the Jurisdiction Of the states. Approx
imately 220 species of migratory birds
are also excluded from the terms OF
the treaty, because they are not spe-
cifically named or do not feed chiefly
or entirely on insects.
"The Federal laws for the protection
of migratory birds are expected to go
a long way toward insuring a supply
for all time, but the interests Of the
states are so inseparably related to the
interests Of the national government
that all efforts to conserve these olrds
must be coordinated for full success,
Federal officials point out. Much al
ready has been done along this line. The
open seasons for wild fowl in twenty
five states have been made to conform
to the Federal seasons, and in many
other states game commissioners and
sportsmen have manifested spirit of
cooperation in game conservation that
indicates a general sentiment favoring
uniformity in state and Federal laws