Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-08-28

seems very appropriate at this time, in
your valuable paper for the benefit of the
readers of same.
Yours respectfully,
E. LEE LECOMPTE,
State Game Warden.
Due to the extreme drought, which has
prevailed in the great breeding areas of
wildfowl in the northwestern section of the
United States and Dominion of Canada in
1929-30 and 1881. strenuous efforts are
being made to curtail the hunting Of same
during the normal hunting season of 1881
49, Pressure is being brought to bear
upon the members of the United States
Department of Agriculture to recommend
either closed season entirely or an open
season not to exceed thirty days, and pro-
hibit batting entirely.
As state Game Warden of Maryland, !
wish to 60 on record as opposing closed
season entirely or a thirty-day open season
continuing in any one month, but believe
express the opinion of the sportsmen of
Maryland in proposing an open season for
the hunting of wildfowl, November 18th to
January 18th, inclusive. with three-day
week open and four-day a week closed
season. In this manner there would only
be twenty-seven shooting days, however,
extended over this period all sections of
the Atlantic Coast States would receive
the benefit and enjoy recreation of hunt
| ing wildfowl. If thirty day open season
was provided during any one month some
| sections of the Atlantic Coast would get
! some shooting while other sections would
| not, as the birds, during migration which
| occurs along the Atlantic Coast usually
| from October to January LIST. do not stay
| in any one section in any OF the States
but move from section to section in quest
of food.
| am familiar with the situation in
Canada and fully realize that the antici-
patton of persons, that even though the
| natural breeding grounds of wildfowl were
void of water, the birds would seek more
remote northern breeding grounds this
season. This has not happened and with
out a question of doubt, heavy shortage
will seriously affect the total supply OF birds
migrating and wintering throughout the
| Atlantic Coast States, therefore, we must
consider the situation as whole and not
from the standpoint Of any State or Sec
ton Of a State.
There are a few organizations in this
country composed of members who are
opposed to the hunting and killing of any
1 species of birds and such organizations
| have for the past five or six years at
tempted from time to time to bring pressure
to bear upon the powers authorized TO
promuleate and put into effect Federal
regulations as provided for by the Migra-
tory Bird Treaty Act to either close the
season or curtail hunting in such man
ner as to prohibit the sportsmen Of this
country enjoying the great outdoors In the
hunting Of migratory birds.
The authorities in Washington. according
to press reports. are comforting almost daily
regarding the unemployment situation with
the hopes OF adopting some method to
relieve the same. With the hundreds upon
hundreds of ducking clubs throughout the
Atlantic Coast, a closed season or a thirty.
day open season In any one month will
throw out Of employment thousands upon
thousands Of guides, caretakers and others
some Of whom are employed annually and