Year: 1878




STAR by spOrtSmen to publish the game laws
which prevail in this section of country, We
present below, in full the act of Congress 'for
the preservation Of game and protection of
birds in the District of Columbia" approved
June 18th, 1878: also an abstract of the game
laws of Virginia and Maryand-the former
from a copy of THE STAR OF last year. and the
latter from recent number Of the Baltimore
Sun:


THE DISTRICT GAME LAW.


An Act for the preservation of game and pro-


lection Of birds In the District of Colum-


Be it enacted, ETC., That no person shall kill
or expose for sale, or have in either his or her
possession, either dead or alive, any partridge
ruary and the first day of November, under a
penalty Of FIVE dollars for each bird so killed
or in possession.


Sec.2. That no person shall kill or expose for
sale, OF have in his or her possession, either
dead or alive. any pheasant, otherwise ruffed
grouse, between the first day of February aud
the first day OF August, under penalty of five
dollars Tor each bird SO killed or in possession.


Sec. B That no person shall kill or expose for
sale, or have in his or her possession either
dead or alive, any wOodcock, between the FIRST
day OF February and the first day of July, un-
der penalty of five dollars for each bird SO
killed or in possession.


Sc Sec T. That no person shall kill or expose for
sale, or have in his or her possession, either
dead or alive any prairie-chicken, Otherwise
plnnated grouse, between the first day of Feb.
ruaTy and the first day of September. under a
or in possession.


sec. 5. That no person shall kill or expose
Tor sale, or have IL his or her possession either
the first day OF Elay and the first Gay of SEN
tember, under a penalty of five dollars for
each bird Killed OF in possession.


sec o. mat no person shall Kill or expose
Tor sale, or have in his or her possession either
dead or alive, any wild duck, wild goose OF
wild brandt, between the first day of April
ara tue EfSt day OF september, under penalty
OF hye dollars for each bird SO killed or in
posse SSiOn.


Sec. I. That no person shall kill or expose
for sale, or have in his or her possession,
either dead or alive, any waterfall, or ortolan
or reed. bird, or rice bird between the first
DAY OF February and the first day of Septem-
Der, under penalty of two dollars for each
bird so killed or in possession.


Sec. :. That no person shall expose for sale
or have in his or her possession, any deer
meat, or VeniSon, between the first day of
under penalty Of twenty cents for each and
every pound of deer-meat SO exposed for sale
or had in possession.


Sec. 9. That no person shall kill or expose
for sale, or have in his or her possession, de adj.
at any time any turkey -buZZard, wren, spar
row, blue bird, humming bird, blue jay, robin
or or migratory thrush, wood or song robin, mar
tin, mocking-bird, swallow, orIole, red or
cardinal bird, cat bird, pewit, whip poor-will,
gOld-finch, sap-sucker. hanging bird, wood
peeker, crow, black. bird, or any other in
sectlvorous bird, save as herein provided
under penalty of two dollars for each bird
killed or in possession dead.


Sec. 10 That no person shall rob the nest of
any wild bird OF eggs or young. or destroy
such nest unless in the necessary prosecution
OF farming business, under a penalty of 81 for
each egg or bird so taken, and under penalty
of 50 for each nest destroyed.


Sec. IL. That no person shall trap, net or en-
snare any wild bird or water fowl, or have in
possession any trap, net or snare, with the in
tent to capture or Kill any wild bird or water
ru of for hi,.l
water fowl so trapped, netted or enSnared,
and under further penalty Of $40 for having
IN possess any such net, trap or snare; and
such net, trap or snare shall be forfeited and
See. i. That no person shall at any time XIII
or shoot at any wild duck, wild goose, or wild
brandt With any other gun than such as ale
habltually raised at arms length and fired
from the shoulder under q penalty Of s. for
each and every wild fowl SO killed, and unde'
the further penalty OF $25 for firing such gun
gun in possession.


Sec. u. That no person shall kill or shoot at
any bird or wild fowl in the night eime, unde1
penalty of $25 for every bird or Wild fowi SO
killed, and under the further penalty Of slJ
for shooting at any bird Or wild fowl in the
night time as aforesaid.


Sec. IA. That persons in killing birds for
scientific purposes, or in possession of them
for breeding, shall be exempt from the opera
tionS OF this act by proving afiiTmatively such
purposes; ana the possession shall In all cases
be presumptive evidence of unlawful purpose.
Sec. ID. That any person who shall know
lngly treSpasS on the lands of another for the
purpose OF shooting or hunting thereon, after
due notice, or notice as provided for in the
following section, by the owner or occupant
OF lands, Shall be liable to such owner or occu-
pant IN exemplary damages to an amount not
be liable to fine of ten dollars for each and
every treSpaSs SO committed. The possession
OF implements of shooting on such lands shall
be presumptIye evidence OF the trespaSS.
b.. rPfArrpd fp
preceding section shall be given by erecting
and maintaining sign boards at least eight by
Twelve inches in dimension, on the borders Of
the premises. and at least two such signs for
every fifty acres; and any person who shall
ma1c1Ously Tear down or in any manner de
lace or lnjure any OF such sign boards shall be
naDle 10 penalty OF not less than five dollars
nor more than twenty five dollars for each and
every slgn-board Sc torn down, defaced or in
JuTed.


Zee Il. That thare shall be no shooting. OR
having III possess on in the open air the i'm
piementS for shooting, On the first day of the
week called Sunday; and any person viOlat
Ing lDe provisions OF this section shall be liza.
bic to penalty of not more than twenty. five
dciiars nor less than ten dollars for each Of


Sec. IS. That all acts or parts of acts now in
force in the District of Columbia, Inconsistent
with the provisions OF this act be- and the same
are hereby, repealed.


approved, June 10, 1878.


THE VIRGINIA GAME LAW





tectlOn OF game, which went into effect on
the isI OF july last, Is of interest to the sports
ifn Hi Oh ant the District It makes it unlawful to
quail between February 1st and NOvembe:
Isl. or 70 capture partridges by nets or traps
ndsaa nnsl the - expiration of two years after the
passage OF the act, (March 29th, 1879 makes
IL niIaWIui 70 klil or capture pheasants or
august LIST, woodcOck, between February LIST
ana july LIST, robins between April lst and
november LIST or to kill. capture or destroy
the nests Of the thrush, cat bird, cardinal or
RED plrd, house wren, orfOle, wood robin, blue
bird, house martin or starring at any time.
1t is made unlawful to kill or capture apy
water fowl. between April lst and September
ISL, except the summer duck and Sora during
the night and it is made unlawful to kin wild
fowl except with gun that can be raised ar
arms length and fired from the shoulder with.
out rest. Wild geese may be killed either
during the day or night, provided that i'm M
case shall floating refectOrS or lamps be used
In shooting wild geese In the night time. Ills
made unlawful to kill Or Capture wild tIIrkevS
between February lSt and October 18th of each
year, nor at any time by traps of apy Kind
it is unlawful for six years from the passage of
thiS act 10 capture mOcking BIRDS or to buy or
sen the same. and both buyer and seller shall
De SUBJECT TO the penalty imposed by this act
ana IN ADDITION each shall be fined one dollar
Ior every bird sold and bought: but this sec.
tl0n shall not apply 10 any person catching or
haVlng caught, the same on his own premises
unless Tor sale. 1t Is unlawful to Shoot or In
any manner destroy, the marsh hen. or to take
itS eggs later IN the season. in any wear than