Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26

I
river and their tributaries will
attract both anglers and hunt
ers. The season for duck hunt
ing opening on that date Will cause
many anglers to put away their tackle
and bring out their guns, Reports from
all directions concerning the 1880 crop
of ducks are most disquieting. Due to
drought conditions and to the constant
encroachment upon breeding areas.
about half the usual number OF b1ros
will wing their way to Wnterlng
grounds.
"The construction of water areas will
induce the birds to concentrate IN un-
usually large numbers this year" says
paul G. Redington, chief of the United
States Biological Survey, and give
sportsmen an erroneous impression that
ducks are still in great abundance
Such fallacious reasoning may lead TO
excessive killing. I therefore make an
urgent appeal to the sportsmen OF the
country to recognize the situation now
menacing the water fowl and to be
governed accordingly in taking ducks
and geese"
The maximum Federal daily Dag Is
Is ducks and 4 geese, which includes
all birds taken by guides. The possess
sion limit Is the legal bag for two days,
80 and g. respectively. No State law
can legally permit larger limits; some
of them are smaller. The Biological
Survey Is anxious to have all bands re-
turned to check up on the migratlons
of the ducks.
Government officials are being impor-
tuned to cut of about month at the
end of the duck season to save ample
seed stock. No doubt some appropriate
action will be taken when the advisory
December. The seasons are too long
anyhow, and certainly q shorter sea-
son is better than closed season.
The Izaak Walton League of America
in a bulletin just issued says:
I'VE deeply deplore the continued
tendency on the part Of small MI
nority of hunters to disregard conserva-
ton regulations and the loss Of COM
mon decency, and urge every true
sportsman to help eliminate the game
hog, the nit-wit who endangers hu, IAN
life, and the vandal who destroys pri-
vate property. We are gratified to note
that healthful recreation and true
sportsmenship are fast becoming the
prime detectives of those who follow
the chase"
Manufacturers Of firearms and am
munition have recently produced and
widely advertised more SportSmanlike
firearms, suc'. as a small bore shotgun
which cannot De fired more than three
times without reloading But it Is not
so much the l-:r.. Of weapon one uses to
kill game as it is whether the man be-
hind the gun is true sportsman and
does his share to perpetuate the game
supply.
Conservation Of Americas game birds
was never more vital than at the pres
ent time Methods of slaughter have
contributed materially to lessen the
supply. This introduction OF firearms
built with the basic purpose OF better
craftsmanship cannot help but aid the
cause.
A IR transport is a new and danger
"A Gus menace to game. While 1t Is
unlawful nearly everywhere TO hunt
from an airplane, transportation to and
from hunting fields by air is coming
more and more into favor with sports
men.
Air travel by sportsmen cannot be
criticized as unethical but the fact re-
mains that It increases the hazard to
game, will increase the kill and Is just
one more obstacle TO the maintenance
OF a supply of wild life.
While there is no doubt about the
thrills to be experienced in soaring
over forests and lakelands seeking viz
gin gamelands, much of the romance
and JOY Of the time -honored and more
primitive methods Of travel by pack
train, on foot and by canoe are lost.
Many veteran sportsman and explorer
will be reluctant TO abandon the forest
trail for the paths of the air great
part of the satisfaction of a hunting
trip comes from the experience of camp
and trail. Much of the benefit from
hunting comes from the physical ex-
ertion required.
Rod ard Stream knows the trials
and tribulations Of fish life and is be-
ginning 20 learn some of the hazards
of game life. The fishes in the sea
and the birds of the air are having an
eternal battle for their existence, and
If the American hunting and fishing
system Is to be saved, sportsmen must
act without delay.
The cry all over tn country Is save
the fish, save the birGs." the problem
Is nationwide, but each section Of the
country should fight the problems most
affecting its region. It Is with this
thought in mind that the national
headquarters of the IZaak Walton
League of America is forming regional
councils The membership of the
league has grown so large and so many
chapters have been formed in the va
rious States that they have become
unwieldly 1t Is the purpose OF the
| regional council to receive reports from
its chapters and in turn forward them
to national headquarters. In this man.
ner much of the work will be expedited
/ and more ground covered.
| ENDORSEMENT Of the proposed bill
| i TO prohibit the use of purse nets fol-
the catching of striped bass ir
| Chesapeake Bay are being received
| from the candidates for the Maryland
| Legislature by the SportSmen's Club OF
! Baltimore in the ratio Of about 10 TO
The replies are being forwarded to
| the Maryland Sportsmen's Luncheon
| Club, which launched the move TO have
the bill passed to conserve the supply
| of this fish. A QUESTIONABLE asking for
| a statement of the attitude toward the
bill had been sent to each legislative
! candidate Up to the last week 102
| aspirants had replied as favoring the
/ passage of the bill and eight had given
! answers interpreted as non-committal.
! Replies are being received at the rate
/ of 20 or 80 q day.