Smyrna times., 1923-12-26
GAME SCARCE; NEW LAW URGED
Hunters Along With Game Warden
John P. LeFevre, May Ask Next
Legislature For a Closed Season

Unless there are indications that
the bunnies in this State have in
creased in numbers by next winter,
game officials of the State may at the
next session of the Legislature ask
for a closed season of one year in or
der to replenish the supply of rab-
bits. When the season opened last
month, there were many bunnies in
sparsely settled sections for a week or
ten days, but then the rabbits became
scarce. An investigation has develop
ed the fact that the supply of bunnies
has become exhausted Rabbit dogs
were just as keen and the hunters
just as clever with the weapons, but
there were no rabbits. When it is
considered that there are about 20
600 hunters in Delaware, this is not
so surprising. But it is not the hunt
ers who, through killing game, make
it scarce, but the dogs and house cats,
game officials declare. In certain sec
tiOns of the State, particularly in the
rural portions, where a farmer keeps
six or eight dogs and maybe as many
cats, there is not the food sufficient in
the winter time to keep the felines
and CANNES in check. Half-fed, the
dogs and cats roam the woods and
fields by day and night, and scent
ing a bed where young bunnies have
just been brought into the world
prey upon them. 1t is no uncommon
thing to see a domestic cat stalking
across a field with a young rabbit, it
it said. Colonel John P. LeFevre,
State Game Warden, Of Dover, has
just returned from attending meet
ing in New York city of national
game officials. At the conference it
developed that other Eastern States
reported a scarcity of rabbits, owing
to the same conditions abound
ing. All Of these states are now look
ing to the West and Southwest for
relief. Colonel LeFevre discussed the
matter Of obtaining supplies of rab-
bits for breeding purposes with the
game officials from Kansas and can
obtain supplies from that State where
the rabbits are so plentiful that the
officials are glad to get rid of them.
The rabbits will cost about S1.25 a
pair and added to this will be the cost
of transportation. However, with a
years closed season the supply of rab-
bits ought to increase materially, if
the cat and dog nuisance was done
away with.
License Fees To Be Used To Re-StOck
The State Game Commission has
received $1,000 in fees from hunters
and fishermen who have taken out
licenses to hunt game and fish in
other counties. This is divided about
rs per cent. for hunters and the re-
naming % per cent. among fisher
men. 1t is Colonel LeFevre's hope to
use this money in buying rabbits tc
restock the State and also replenish
the ponds and lakes of Delaware with
game fish. 1t is his idea to procure
the rabbits from Kansas and droI
them in wooded sections throughout
the State where they could best thrive
and trust to the natural progeny tC
make rabbits plentiful again. Colonel
LeFevre points out that in cities the
residents who own dogs have to take
out a license and be responsible fol
the dog. But in the country there is
no restriction. A farmer may have
six or eight dogs, and none of then
be of much good. If he had to pay
a nominal fee-say fifty cents or {
dollar a dog, he wouldn't keep mon.
grels and ours about, but would get
rid of them Or when the assessor
came around and found him with si2
dogs, he would ask if they were hi,
property. If the farmer only wanted
to pay for one or two dogs he would
state that fact and the assessor would
have the other dogs collected. They
would be kept for a certain time anC
then done away with, if no owner
came forward to pay the license fee.
Plan Needed to Prevent determination
Some such plan must be put int
effect, Colonel LeFevre believes, il
rabbits are to be kept for the spor
that comes with six weeks of cunning
in the fall Of the year. If things are
allowed to continue as they have
then rabbits will soon became ex
tinct as far as any fine sport is con.
cerned.