Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-27
UNEARTH VALUABLE DATA
ON CAME CONSERVATION
la 49," Ii Wasl Advocated That
Ducks BE Protected
10y Law.
THKEE MILLION ACRE REFUGE
Conservation Taught i'm Schools in
Nevada aud Code Of State Found
Shows Section Relating to- Game
and Fish.
nN u. u. HOLLAND.

~ 'ii'aih L. MefNh"n. OF sag iaaw,
Gam. Protective Association, tells Of
uncdrthiug some valuable data in
connection with gam. conservation in
IN" carly days. among which were the
printed procccdinrs ~ The Michigan
Sporisman's Association for I'VE CON
s"cutivc years. beginning with 1878
In the Proceedings Of rs j. was t.dvo-
Gated that Wild ducks be protected by
.aw ana that LAW y. PASSED prohib-
itine The shipment to foreign markets
~ rufcd grouse and v"niSon. From
the records Of the railroad company
OF that year II VAS shown that 1000
deer were Killed and shipped from
Tho state OF Michigan.
There was q plea for the protection
or tn" passenger pigeon. showing
that the spOTtsmcn realized the havoc
being created among th.s. birds 10y
th- market shooters Among tho pro-
the gray!ing, which had been discov-
cred and identified only u few years
previously. As an experiment, brook
trout had been planted in Southern
M!crlsin and n Request WAS made for
Their protection. MIR. M.rshcn states
Ia his letter that his father planted
the first trout frs that ser. ever pat
in Michigan stream. They were
planted in the head waters Of the To-
Glare.
tn. spp.tslnen OF toda% Who cannot
help but regret that tn. plea for the
protection OF the passenger pigeon
wac not needed. not only by the Mich
as well. so that this vaiuahl. species
Of American game could have been
preserved 'Nr the sportsmcn of future
generations.
Three Million Acres Of Hrfugr.
California NJ tn. present time has
roughly speaking, the equivalent or
3 per cent ~ h"r total area set aside
as gam. refugees. on which no hunt.
inLs Is .,..nN.,I ,Nrsnt that ,DrII!lN cn
by tho state and Federal government
Ia an cror, 10 cNi"rminaic the YER
min. including the national PARKS
and monuments, California now has
forty-"n- distinct game refue"s.
The STATE Is responsible for the
creation Of most OF the sanctuarics.
have been set aside by legislative
action. Others. known as Federal
bird reservations. have been set aside
by the Federal Eovernment. which
the national parks and monuments.
Other refugees, known as state game
preserves. have been created ny tht
Board OF Fish and Game Commission
ers These arc formed by having the
owners OF the property cede all hunt
ing privileges 10 the state Tor Il
period OF not less Than ten years;
Ey such action Caliiornit is aSSur-
ing her citizens pcrpctuation of the
game. which means spor; and recrea-
ton for al! iimc TO come.
conservation Nv NfubptS.
Conservation OF our natural re-
sources is only following the dictates
OF common sense. No one Who !nNeS-
:ientcs that subject can oppose game
conservation. Many who fail 20 grasp
the necessity for work OF this nature
have gained their viewpoint through
ignorance of the matter.
Granting that conservation is prin-
cirally u matter OF education. why
should Il not be dealt with In our
schools? Section 3%iI OF the fish and
game laws of Nevada is entitled "Du-
tics OF TrachcrS-Chi 10 lse In
structcd Relative To Preservation OF
Birds, Fish and Game" and reads as
follows:
1T is hereby made The duty OF each
and every teacher in the public
schools OF this state 10 give oral In
Structioa AT lcas, once month to
all children attending such schools,
relative to the preservation of song
birds, fish and game; and TO read OF
cause 20 hc read 20 such children,
AT least twice during each school
year. the lish AMI game laws OF the
State OF Nevada"
III this section We believe Nevada
has set AN example worthy OF tho at
tcntIrn OF the other states. Teachers
should he required % include in their
preparation u course dealing with the
conservation Of wild l!fe and they
sif7'-.ld he compelled 20 keep in touch
with current questions relating there
10. in order that they may Toe properly
qualified "a teach their pupils modern
conservation.