BOB WHITE. 157 



were protected for three years, and I am informed that 

 last season they were plentiful, and sport was excellent. 



The exact features of the law should be adapted to 

 the wants of the State which enacts it, and due attention 

 must be paid to all the rights, and even to some of the 

 prejudices, of the community. Game laws are too often 

 considered as intended to benefit the town and "dude" 

 sportsmen, and as inimical to the farmer. This is to be 

 deplored. Proper game laws, well executed, are more 

 beneficial to the farmers and the farmer sportsmen than to 

 any other class. It enables them to realize a source of rev- 

 enue from the game found on their farms, if they so desire, 

 and it secures to the farmer sportsmen game near at hand 

 a most desirable thing for them, for they, as a rule, do 

 not visit distant sections in the pursuit of game. The law 

 which enables a man to post his property and prevent 

 trespassing is most desirable; for, while game birds are the 

 property of no one, still the owner of inclosed premises 

 should have the right to say who may hunt and fish 

 thereon. It seems to me that a gentleman would as soon 

 intrude. in another's parlor as in his field, and suchinstru- 

 sions should be met alike in both cases. There are but 

 few farmers who object to the proper persons hunting on 

 their lands. 



Non-export laws are excellent. The absolute prohibi- 

 tion of shooting Bob Whites for the market is desirable. 

 The destruction of their eggs and netting or trapping them 

 should be prohibited at all seasons of the year. These 

 and other provisions can be inserted, care being taken, 

 however, not to make the law obnoxious. The penalty 

 should not be too heavy. If you put it at $5 or $10 for 

 ordinary shooting out of season, you can get local courts 

 and juries to convict; and this penalty, if imposed and 

 collected, will be amply sufficient, especially where the 

 ever-present court costs are attached. If you make the 



