Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-07
Further Protection
OF Wild Life Urged
II She Editor of The Star:


Soss>e years ago, under nom de
plume tat some would probably still
recognize, achieved some small fame
as a writer on fishing. hunting and
game conservation topics. Some of
the reforms I advocated were smaller
game bags. shorter open seasons on
game and fish. discOntinuance of sell
ing game in public markets and no
Sunday hunting or fishing. Follow.
ing the lead Of "CoQuina" George o.
Shields), / roasted the fish and game
''hogs," though Brother Shields, in
his magazine, the old Recreation, far
surpassed me as barbecuer of these
greedy, selfish animals. He used TO
fay them and roast them to a turn.
| should like to pay tribute here to
that fine, altrIistic man, who ought
to be better known than he is. He
belongs TO that small band of choice
spirits of whom the poet sings:
only the actions of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in their
| dust"
OF late years l have not followed
the trend Of fish and game matters
very closely. but l understand that
conditions in this field are much bet
ter than they used to be. They could
not be much worse than they used to
be. There are still fish and game
hogs" and there is still plenty OF
work for legislators to do in passing
wise game and fish laws and need
for faithful, energetic game wardenS
to enforce such laws properly.
Perhaps the chief need as regards
game legislation is a multiplication OF
game sanctuaries. There Is not sc
much need for fish sanctuarieS, for
fish hatcheries take their place. But
when the game Is gone. 1t IS gone
forever. A special commission OF eX
perienced, picked game conservation
lists should be appointed by the Fed
eral Government to make thorough
intensive study Of game conditions
| throughout the United States, and
perhaps in Alaska also, with q view
toward increasing the stocks of game
Special attention and study should be
given to the woodcock,. for the sup
plies of this fine game bird are sadly
depleted. There should be permanent
closed seasons on the Rocky Mountain
sheep, the wild turkey and certain
other species. Perhaps it is not toe
late to save our vanishing species
! But drastic measures must be taken
to save them from extinction. Lei
us have no more such shameful chap
tiers in our history as recount the
slaughter and total extinction of the
passenger pigeon, whose flight once
| darkened the heavens and whose null
titudes broke the limbs of the forest
trees upon which they rested. Let us
have no more such blots on our es
cutcheon and such national disgraces
as this!
There should be still further short
enings of the open seasons on game
and fish and further limitations or
the size of game bags. A civilized
American Is not a wild Indian that
he has to depend upon game and fish
for food. The chief value of hunting
and fishing is the outdoor exercise
and recreation to be gained from these
pursuits. A limited bag, just large
enough to afford a sense of success
full attainment and of the rewards OF
the chase. should satisfy any hunter
or angler. Fishing and hunting are
not sports" but forms of recreation
A man should not seek to become toe
proficient in them. Herbert Spencer
rebuke Of a skillful young billiard
player applies also to the overexpert
| hunter or angler: Young man, to
play a good game of billiards is one
| of the marks of the well rounded ed
ucation of gentleman. But to play
| too good game of billiards is sign
of misspent life"
CHARLES HOOPER.