The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1922-12-08
SCARCITY OF RABBITS

The following letter from the State
Game Warden will interest our hun
ters and at the same time furnish con-
siderable food for thought relative TO
game preservation:
Baltimore, Md, November 20, 1922
Dear Editors:
"For the past few days, have no
dced articles In the letter columns Of
the Press Of this State, relative to the
scarcity Of Rabbits. | have been re-
quested on numerous occasions TO ex-
plain this condition.
During q conversation with DR.. AL
exander Wetmore, Investigator Of the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture, Washington d. c., on November
18th, requested TO know TO what he
alluded the scarcity Of rabbits In this
State. His reply was to the effect that
practically every State In the Union
every Q or 8 years have the same
trouble we are experiencing at this
time. due TO disease which spreads
among the rabbits during the early
Fall.
"The acts Of 1922. Chap. sol, pro-
vides, that persons may train or hunt
their dogs without guns between Sept
10 and Nov: Q. During the month Of
September we received reports from
practically every County in the State
advising us that rabbits were very
plentiful, however. when the hunting
season opened. this species Of game be-
came very scarce. Personally al
lude this scarcity TO several causes:
/. Long drought since September
18th, which necessitated rabbits seek
ing water courses.
2. Possibly'a disease.
3. Great increase in the fox family
and other vermin.
There are large number of persons
In this State who enjoy fox hunting
and It il impossible to secure legisla,
ton 10 rid the State Of the Fox. which
every sportsman knows Is very detri.
mental TO our Game supply. During
the Spring Of 1922 a friend told me
he dug out one fox den and found 1
young rabbits, and In another den he
found seven mallard ducks. which goes
TO show the fox does not confine his
activities to the fur family alone.
Opening the Squirrel season Septem
Der LIST gives certain persons q good
chance to kill rabbits during their hunt
for squirrels. OF course I am aware
there are n great many persons who
hunt squirrels, but do not kin other
game on which there Is closed season
however, there are great number Of
persons who use the open season on
Squirrels to hunt other game includ.
ing rabbits.
Several days ago a letter appeared
in one Of the Baltimore papers under
date Of November 22nd, signed &C. J.
NJ. Hamilton. advising the purchase
Of rabbits for restocking. For the
information Of the public especially
the sportsmen / wish to state that we
have contracts placed for the delivery
of 5000 Cotton Tail Rabbits during
the Spring Of 1923, therefore. each
County In this State will receive q
allotment During the season Of 1922
we had contracts placed for cotton tail
rabbits, however, due to the heavy rate
OF mortality in shipping, the broker
refused 10 all cur order.
During an inspection trip through
the Counties Of Allegheny and Garrett
which Counties We're stocked last year
with the Maine Snowshoe Hares, dur.
ing the season Of 1929. ! was unable
10 find single person who had seer
or killed q single Snowshoe hare dur
ing the open season, therefore l have
come TO the conclusion this species Of