The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-10-30
HUNTERS ANTICIPATE A
BIG WILDFOWL SEASON
Currituck Game Act Held Unconstitutional,
But Judge Webb's Order Not Effective Until
Dec l; Supreme Court Ruling Pending

guides. whose dCtlNltleS lllcdll
much in revenue for the schools
and families of the counties of
Currituck and Dare. will
breathe easier with the news
that they will be spared a
month longer at least to pursue
their calling under the game
acts OF their counties. The re-
straining order handed down
by Judge Webb is not to be ef-
fcctivc until December |, pend
ing the decision of the Supreme
, Court.
Judge James l.. Webb, who heard
the motion brought against the Cur
rituck Game Commission i'm August.
handed down his decision October
22. in which he declared the Cur
rituck Game Act unconstitutional,
but in view of the gravity of the
situation, his order was not to 20 in
effect until December ], one month
after the wildfOwl season opens. In
the meantime. the case is under ap-
peal to the Supreme Court, and
should the Supreme Court reverse
Judge Webb's decision, present act
will continue i'm force.
So turrituc6. which is the larg-
est wildfCwl hunting territory i'm
the State. is TO he spared another
month under the game act which has
been under fire this year. The bud
get for Currituck schools and cOlln-
ty expenses in general. hinge on the
act remaining in effect. and to de-
str0y it ut this time would work Il
| hardship on the county. Back of all
this move to destroy the enforce
mrnt of the game laws now observed
| in the county. may be- seen the hand
writing of the professional job hunt
erS of the state. who sought to create
! a statewide Game Act in the last.
! General Assembly. Those who are
/ fighting 10 destroy the game bill of
Currituck. formerly maintained Il
/ paid lobby Ia fight for u statewide
game commission. which would have
created numerous offices tO bc fill
/ rd by political appointment, and re-
numCratcd at public expense.
Earlier in the summer. Il request
! was filed on behalf of Il number
of Charlotte SporlSmcn. against the
curriluck County Game Commits
sion. asking IL restraining order 10
present the Commission from cXrr-
ci>img their functions under the
act. on the ground that it was not
in accordance with constitutional rr-
uuircmcntS. The contestants con-
/ tend that Northern SpOrtSmcn have
fought for the establishment Of the
present Currituck County game act,
when aS Il matter of fact. northern
sport>mrm would not profit by its
abGliShmcnt. and would have Ia pay
decidedly less for the privilege Of
hunting. The abOliShment Of the
present laws in Currituck will mcan
II step in the fight for Il Statewide
game commission. which would place
the enforcement of all game laws
in the hands of political appOintccS.
Funds from the counties of Cur
rituck and Dare. which now pro-
fit by their commanding geOSraphi-
cal position. by reason of the visits
of Northern SpOrtSmen who come Tor
the wildfowl hunting. would be
diverted tu counties upstate that
have 10 rrvcnIr from hunting. But
these counties want game wardcns
maintained in their borders at pub
lie expense. in the hope of improved
hunting among the small game birds
.and animals. that interest only the
local hunters. and will never appeal
itu amy great extent 10 wealthy hunt
rr< from the north AS Il result Of
such :; condition the eastern COlln-
lies. with no other great sources OF
revenue. would suffer greatly by
reason of the fees and taxes their
schools would lose. Yet they would
br hurdcnrd with the support Of
game war,cnS in their OWN and
other counties.
Under The present system. The pro-
pie of the wildlOwl country have lent
themselves Loyalty 10 the observance
Of the hunting laws. They take
pride in the enforcement Of the laws
and the collection of the fines and
fees imposed. because they mean
much I" the public welfare. State
wide enforcement in these instances
is not expected to do better.
Season Open Monday
The wildfowl season opens Mon
day. because November ], falls On
Sunday. SpOrtsmcn may hunt in
Currituck on only four days a week,
80 protective is the law, that two
resi- days. Wednesday and Saturday,
are enforced risidl".
Indications point 10 d. god Wild
fowl season this y"3r