The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-12-18
Game Scarcity

For the past few days, have
noticed articles In the letter columns
of the press of this state. relative to
the scarcity of Rabbits. have been
requested on numerous occasions to
explain this condition.
During conversation with DR.. :
Alexander Wetmore, Investigator OF
the United States Department of Ag- !
nculture, 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 6 or years
have the same trouble we are expert
encing at this time, due to a disease
which spreads among, the rabbits /
during early Fall.
The Acts of 1922, Chap. 301, pro-
vides. that persons may train or
hunt their dogs without gun between
September 10th and November 9Th.
During the month of September we
received reports from practically
every County in the State advising us
that rabbits were very plentiful, how
ever, when the hunting season open
ed. this species of game became very
scarce Personally allude this
scarcity to several causes:
First-Long drought since Sep
TENDER 18th, which necessitated
rabbits seeking water courses.
= Second-Possibly a disease.
Third-Great increase in the fox
family and other vermin.
There are large number of PEI
sons in this State who enjoy fox
hunting, and 1t is almost impossible
to secure legislation to rid the State
of the Fox, which every sportsman
knows is very detrimental to our
Game supply. During the Spring OF
1922 friend told me he dug out one
| fox den and found s young rabbits,
and in another den he found seven
mallard ducks, which goes to show
| the fox does net confine his activities
| to the fur family alone.
Opening the Squirrel season Sep
TENDER 1st gives certain persons a
good chance to kill rabbits during
their hunt for squirrels. Of course, l
am aware there are great many
persons who hunt squirrels
but do not kill other game on which
there is closed season, however.
| there are great number of persons
| who use the open season on SPUR
rels to hunt other game including
rabbits.
Several days ago a letter appear
ed in one of the Baltimore papers I'M
der date of November 22nd, signed
l"C. J. NJ" Hamilton, advising the
purchase of rabbits for restocking.
For the information of the public es-
I pecially the sportsmen wish to
state that we have contracts placed
for the delivery of 5000 Cotton Tail
Rabbits during the Spring of 1928,
therefore, each County in this State
will receive an allotment. During the
season of 1922, we had contracts
placed for cotton tail rabbits, how
ever. due to the heavy rate of NOR
tally in shipping, the broker refus-
ed to fill our order.
During an inspection trip through
the counties of Allegany and Gar
rett, which Counties were stocked
last year with the Maine Snowshoe
Hares, during the season of 1929,
was unable to fin da single person
who had seen or killed a single Snow.
shoe hare during the open season,
therefore, l have come to the con-
clusion this species of Game is not
suitable for the covers of this State
also learned the sportsmen OF
these two counties realize opening
the Squirrel season September 1st is
detrimental instead of being bene-
fetal to our Game supply.
l certainly will appreciate the
favor very much if you will publish
all or at least the most important
points of this letter for the benefit oil
your many readers for which please
accept my thanks in advance.
E. LEE LSCOMPTE.
u State Game Warden