Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-10-17

mental part in decreasing the breeding
grounds of Canada; fire and agriculture
fire caused by the carelessness of trap
pers or others where large areas Of
grass beds which furnish excellent
areas for the breeding grounds Of ducks
have been burned over with untold
darAage to widfowl during this
drought period. Canada is a sparsely
settled country and the advance of
agriculture toward the breeding areas
Of wildfowl has been slow but sure.
New farms are springing up in the
great swamp and lake areas, soil plow-
ed and laid open to rains, absorbing
water which once reached the slashes
and slough bayous. In this manner,
thousands of acres of valuable Wild
fowl breeding grounds have been
caused to disappear.
The decrease in the number of birds
naturally will cause more concentra-
ton. The Maryland sportsmen in some
sections may feel that there has been
40 decrease in wildfowl due to the con-
centrated migration of wildfowl to
The vast watered areas which the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries af-
ords. However, without question,
here will be less birds coming to
Maryland territory this year than in
former years.
Honorable Paul G. Redington, Chief
of the Bureau Of Biological Survey, has
issued a nationwide appeal for CO.
operation to State Came Departments
and sportsmen at large, warning us
that unless the sportsmen themselves
assist and cooperate in saving birds
for brood stock, his department will be
compelled to impose further restric-
tons on the hunter l an we'll aware
of what may happen unless we, as
sportsmen, not only ourselves use
sportsmenlike methods in hunting, but
compel others to do SO. Emergencies
which arise canbe remedied to a
certain degree if the sportsmen them
selves will adopt policy of cooper
alton, obeying the bag limit law
which has been promulgated and
put into effect by the Biological
Survey and compelling others to
observe it. The bag limit for this
season on wild geese is four per day
and wild ducks fifteen per day, and it
is unlawful to have in possession more
than wild geese or 80 wild ducks at
any one time.
With these conditions confronting us,
if we expect to continue the enjoyment
which the sport affords in the future,
then it is very essential that every gun
ner this season should practice a high
er code of shooting ethics by observing
the bag limit and disseminating some
of the unsportsmanlike methods which
have been used heretofore. Unless
such an attitude is displayed on the
part of the hunters, the restoration
methods planned for a diminishing
supply of wildfowl may come too late
There is very strong sentiment on this
continent opposing the use of the auto
matte and pump gun, reducing the open
season thirty days, the batting of
blinds and the use of live decoys. I'm
less the sportsmen show cooperation
on their part in assisting the author
tiles in trying to bring back an increase
of wildfowl, these agitators may i'm
press upon the Federal authorities the
need for promulgating and putting into
effect, regulations which would he very
bitterly opposed by a great many
sportsmen of Maryland.
Our Maryland sportsmen can assist
very materially by living up to the re-
duced bag limit, cutting down our
shooting days, lending their active CO.
operation to prohibit any form market
cunning, and prohibiting the "beet-
Logging of wildfowl. Every female
wild duck or wild goose killed this
coming season means less eggs for in
cubation during the propagating season
of 1881.
l appeal to the sportsmen of Mary
land to assist US in trying to further
protect our wildfowl supply. There
fore, Mr. Hunter, think of your fellow
sportsmen. 1t will undoubtedly help
prolong your sport in future years.
E. LEE LeCOMPTE,
State Game Warden of Maryland.