The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-11-10
CHINA PHEASANT
BANQUET SERVED
GUN CLUBS FIRST ANNUAL AFFAIR
Pleasant Social Event at Columbia Gorge
HOtel-Capt. Burghduf, State Game
Warden, Chief Speaker

The Hood River Gun club, organized
only last spring, held its first annual
China pheasant banquet at the Colum-
bia Gorge hotel Friday night. With
about so, including members, their
wives, sweethearts and friends present,
the occasion was one of the most pleas
ant recently participated in by Hood
River folk.
The dinner was truly a banquet, and
each diner was served with half Of a
roasted pheasant. The birds were
killed by members of the organization.
Between courses and following the din
ner the banqueters danced.
Capt. A. E. Burghduff, introduced by
Ernest C. Smith, was chief speaker of
the banquet. In his Introductory re-
marks Mr.. Smith stated that he was
high gun of the local club. Indeed he
declared that he held his gun so high
that he missed rs pigeons in succession
at shoot.
Capt. Burghduff, who, however, inti-
mated that he might be a fisherman
among the royalty of the disciples of
Sir lzaak Walton, told of an expert
ence of his own in shoot. He missed
all hut one of so clay pigeons. A
woman shooter broke two birds, and as
result Capt. Burghdutf won BOBBY
prize.
Capt. Burghduf told of the work of
the Oregon State Game fund in sup
porting Mrs. Denny, wife of Judge
Denny, who brought China pheasants
to Oregon.
1--WE have been giving $50 per month
for several years toward her mainte-
nance" said Capt. Burghduff, land
will continue to do so as long as she
lives. The China pheasant, which now
has been intermixed largely with the
Mongolian pheasant, large bird, and
the English Ringneck pheasant, which
were introduced subsequently.
81 believe the China pheasant is due
to become the game bird of Oregon,
and very likely the game bird of the
nation. They thrive in our climate,
and the chief reason that they are pop
ular as game birds is that they may be
reared under domestic conditions, but
when they are released they become
wild at once. Taken in coops to the
country, they leave in flight, when the
lids are lifted, and they do not alight
until they reach brush, which seems to
offer hiding. They become wild at
once.
"We have a good deal of expense in
Oregon in maintaining game wardens.
This work is necessary but of vastly
more Importance is that of conducting
campaigns Of education throughout the
state. Last year we collected total
of $3.50, 600 for the game fund. OF this
SOS, 600 was spent for wardens. Most
of the remainder was for propagation
work. We are necessarily limited in
educational work. This must be pur-
sued by such organizations as yours
here. The state had at one time the
so-called Oregon Sportsmen's League
which went by the boards because it
was not founded on the right basis or
as result of politics. But we GER
tainly need some such statewide or
ganiZation now.
"Road campaigns by state and ma
tional interests have opened up our
fields and streams, until now even the
widest places are fairly accessible.
We wonder why there are no fish in
our streams or game in our fields.
When we think of how easy it is to get
out for them, it is easily explained.
No game birds are seen today along
our main highways. At the last ses-
sion of the legislature | introduced
bill, which would have prohibited the
carrying of loaded firearms along high
ways. 1t was defeated. ! had some
uncomplimetary remarks passed about
it. Yet the time is coming when we
must have some such legislation, in
order to save for the state this great
asset of fish and game. which go hand
in hand with the scenic asset. We
want to develop type of tourist who
will visit our state each summer.
1.-The idea in some places seems to
prevail that the state game department
exists from legislative appropriation.
In fact it is the only state department
that is self-supporting. We derive our
income from license fees and we get a
half of the fines assessed for violation
of game laws. Sportsmen of the state
should take a pride in the fact that on
their shoulders rests the responsibility
for game preservation.
Capt. Burghduff warned sportsmen
from tendency of going to the legis-
lature and asking for approximations.
He urged them TO keep clear of poll
tics. He ended his speech by saying:
81 will not get started on fishing.
could tell some stories and yarns as big
as those of any of you here. But |
learned a lesson down at Eugene not
very long ago. The gun club there
was serving banquet. They had fried
chicken. 1t was fine and | enjoyed it,
but | wanted little joke, too. an
nounced that it was China pheasant.
Some Of the brethren of the press we're
there, and asked them to kindly re-
frain from announcing that pheasant
was being served, as the season was
closed. That pheasant story, however,
oot stared eounahoyy or other and I