Milford chronicle., 1927-04-29
MIGRATORY BIRD RULES
ON HUNTING CHANGED
Amendments Affect Limits Of
Bags, Seasons And The Meth
DDS To Be Used.

Amended regulations under the
Federal Migratory Bird Control
Treaty Act which become effective
at once, have been adopted by Sec
retary of the Agriculture Jardine
and approved by President Coolidge.
During the next hunting season it
will be unlawful to take more than
four woodcock a day Gnstead of six
as formerly, and the only shore
birds that may be hunted during the
seasons 1927 and 1928 are jacksnipe
and woodcock. No changes are made
in. existing regulations affecting the
l,xgth of seasons or size of bag lim-
its on ducks and geese. says the an
nouncement by the Department OF
Agriculture, and goes on:
The use of sinkboXeS on lnlano
waters is prohibited, but on costal
waters sinkboxes may be used Under
restrictions that provide that each
one must be at least 200 yards from
any shore, island, or other sinkboX.
The use of motorboats and airplanes
TO drive and rally ducks to keep
them moving and thus provide bet
ter shooting, is prohibited under the
new regulations.
Local changes in the regulations
affect the dates of open seasons for
hunting wild fowl in Northeastern
California and Northern Idaho"
These amendments to the regula-
tions were adopted after careful con-
sideration by the Geological Survey
and public hearings on the matter:
Investigations conducted by the
department indicate that the wood
cock is maintaining its numbers in
New England, the North Atlantic
States. and the Maritime Provinces
of Canada, and that in portions of
these areas it has increased materi-
ally. Reports from other sections are
not so encouraging, however, and 1t
has been decided, in view of the gen
eral situation, to add to the protec-
ton of the woodcock by making a
moderate reduction in the daily bag
limit.
The effect of amending the regu-
lations to provide twO-year closed
season on greater and lesser yellow
legs is to place all species of shore
birds-except Wilson or jacksnipe
and woodcock-on the list uf migra-
tory birds for which no open season
is at present provided. No shorebird
shooting will be permitted in 1927
and 1928 by Federal regulation eX-
cept in the case of woOdcock and
iacksnipe. Reports show that yellow
legs have not been increasing, and it
becomes desirable to protect them
completely for two years to give
them a chance to multiply sufficient
ly to allow a moderate open season
at the conclusion of that period"
More than 5,150,000 hunting licen-
ses were taken out in the season
I925-26 by sportsmen throughout the
United States, including Alaska, and
the return to State treasures
amounted to more than $6,SO0,000.
Although data are lacking from four
States, detailed figures for the sea-
son compiled by the Biological Sur
Vey show increases in the numbers
of licenses issued and fees received
over the two preceding years. In
1923-24, the licenses numbered A.
395,O9S and the fees were $5,594,9S2.
One year later 4,904,740 hunters paid
$6,190,S63.94 for their licenses. In
New York State in 1925-26, 939, ,147
hunters paid $454,S49.25 for their Ii
censes; in New Jersey, 154,567 hun
ters and fishermen paid $270,907 so,
and in Connecticut 35,0S7 hunters
paid $3S,67S.