Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-04-25
Quail Scarce In The Southwest.

Mr.. Editor This department is receiv- |
ing numerous inquiries from all over the |
State requesting to know when the game
for distribution will be delivered in the
different counties of the State. For the
benefit of your readers, will appreciate |
the favor very much if you will publish all
or part of the enclosed clipping. which is
from an address delivered before the men,
bers of the Maryland State Game and Fish
Protective Association, in Baltimore, on
Thursday evening, April 18th, which is a
report of my trip to Mexico in quest of
game for which the department had con-
tracts placed.
would appreciate it for you to add
that the monies in the State game protec
tive fund. which are derived from hunters
licenses system. remain in tact and will
not revert to the State, but will be ex-
pended on game protection and propaga-
ton in the near future. as the Conserva-
ton Commission of Maryland may deem
advisable.
Thanking you very much for the publ
cation of this article in your valuable
paper, beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
E. LEE LIE COMPETE.
State Game Warden.
"Marylands effort to replenish its de-
pleted supply Of quail, rabbits and pleas
ants will have to be deferred because of
inability to secure the game for propaga
ton throughout the State.
"E. Lee lie Compile, State Game Warden.
has returned from an extensive tour. which
included visits to Kansas, Texas and
Mexico. and which had for its object the
gathering of game birds and rabbits for
propagation. He had expected to gather
thousands Of birds; he returned with 343
quail. A three-year drought in Mexico
has almost extineuished quail in that coun-
try. Mr.. lie Compile says the Conservation
Commission had contracts with brokers at
Kansas City for 500 ringneck pheasants
and contracts at Mexico for 10000 Bob
White quail. The brokers reported that
because of drouth they would be unable
to carry out their contracts placed in No
vember, 1918, for delivery in March, 1919.
The commission sent Mr.. lie Compile to in
vestieate their reports.
81 left Baltimore March "a and stopped
first at Kansas City. The broker explained
the situation and has promised to deliver
the pheasants contracted for, if possible.
between May and IS. Then went to
Eagle Pass, Texas. and found conditions
exactly as the brokers had described them.
During the season of 1918 there were re-
ported at the port 14.800 quail. The port
inspector opened his books to me and they
showed that only 544 birds had been i'm
ported during the season Of 1919, and of
these only 263 were Bob Whites said Mr..
LIE Compile.
az also visited the port of Laredo and
found the same conditions there. spent
three days in Mexico, travelling by auto
mobile and calling on trappers. Many Of
them had quit trapping for the season
because OF the scarcity of quail. On one
hacienda. an irrigated property of 1885,
900 acres. the manager told me that dur
ing the season of 1918 there were over
5000 Bob White quail trapped. as against
1903 during the season of 1919
"The continued drouth for three years
throughout Mexico and Southern Texas
has not only caused birds to migrate. but
has kept them from propagating. and
also feel sure that great many have died
for want of water and vegetation. Citi-
zens MAINTAIN that on February %, 1919,
occurred the first rainfall in three years.
Since that time there has been a wet sea-
son and the vegetation begins to show
improvement.
"'0ur broker with whom we had con-
tract for cottontail rabbits. stated that
because Of severe windstorms during the
trapping season the rabbits had burrowed
into the ground. where they remained.
making 1t impossible for trappers to oper-
ate.
"Mr. lie Compile addressed the Maryland
Game and Protective Association in the
New Howard House on the result of his
trip"