The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-07-14
MORE PROTECTION
FOR CAME BIRDS
BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE
AND HOUSE BY MEssRS. NEW
AND ANTHONY.
REQUIRES SHOOTING LICENSE
Measure Also Would Establish Shoot
ing Grounds for the Public and
Breeding Grounds and Game Refugees
In Certain Marshy Areas.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
Washington.-Spor bird pro-
tectors and agriculturists throughout
the country probably will be interest
ed In bill known as the public
shooting ground and game refuge BILL"
which has been introduced simultane-
ously in the senate and the house by
Senator New of Indiana and by Rep.
resentatiye Anthony of Kansas.
This bill provides for the establish
ment Of shooting grounds for the pub
lie, for establishing game refugees and
breeding grounds, for protecting mi
gratory birds and for requiring federal
licenses to hunt them.
1t is known, Of course, to men who
like to hunt game birds in season, that
under the terms of convention be-
tween the United States and Canada
certain restrictions already have been
placed upon the killing of migratory
birds. Spring shooting has been abol-
ished and other protective measures
are In force.
One of the results of this treaty has
been to increase the migratory game
supply of the United States and to in
sure that posterity may have saved
for it food reserve of great economic
value, and also have the privilege of
hunting, a privilege that 1t would not
have had II things had gone on In the
same old game-slaughtering way.
The enforcement OF the provisions Of
the law under the treaty has been vest
ed In officials of government. DR.. e.
w. Nelson Of the biological survey Of
the Department Of Agriculture and
some OF his associates are the direct
ing force in the matter.
Existing Law Not Sufficient. II
1t has been shown that the marsh
lands Of the United States are being
SO rapidly drained and resting places
and breeding places for certain kinds
Of migratory game are being reclaimed
SO fast that in time there will be few
feeding, breeding and dropping.in
places for ducks, geese and waders on
their journeyings. iH
There is trouble in the way Of the
continued. enforcement of the treaty
law. The money available for the
employment of federal wardens is not
sufficient to meet the expenses and to
insure adequate enforcement Of the
statutes. The bill which Senator New
and Representative Anthony have in
troduced provides Tor 81 federal II.
cense fee from every gunner. This, It
is known, will give the government
enough money to carry out the provi-
sions of the laws governing the shoot
ing and the protection Of migratory
BIRDS
Messrs. New and Anthony are very
much interested in the bills which
they have introduced. 1t is said that
a good deal Of the marsh land which
has been drained in various parts Of
the United States, thus depriving GER
tain species of birds of their natural
resorts, proves to be, valueless for ag-
ricultural purposes after the draining.
Certain constituents of the soil have
rendered it unfit for agricultural pur-
poses and the land becomes waste. 1t
Is proposed to determine what marsh
lands will be Of no service after drain
ing and have the government purchase
them or rent them for game refugees.
The money derived from the small IL
cense fee, it is expected, will cover all
the costs in the case.
Measure Generally indorsed.
Game protective associations have
indorsed the measure and it has re-
ceived the Endorsement, as well, of the
elements in the community naturally
interested in the conservation Of the
wild life which furnishes not only sport
but also food supply to the people Of
the land. The American Game Pro-
tective association Of New York has
declared that this Is the most effective
and most acceptable piece Of game
legislation ever introduced, and then
the association adds; when this bill
is enacted into law wild fowl shooting
win be perpetuated for all time"
To give an idea OF the extent Of the
shooting Of wild fowl each fall, 1t Is
said that In Minnesota, where each
gunner is compelled under the law to
turn In the number Of game birds that
he has killed, and also the species, l.
10000 game birds were killed In the
one open season Of three and half
months Of the year 1918. It readily
can be seen from this how much care
must be taken not only to protect the
breeding places Of Wild birds, but 70
see to II that they have q sufiicient
number Of them IN order that there
may be supply of game FOR the TO-
\ture.
II has been reported to the authori-
ties in washington that haphazard
draining OF the marsh lands Of the