SECOND BIENNIAL STATEMENT 193 



Feb. 15. — A knock-out blow was dealt the market-gunning industry 

 that for many years had been carried on, on an enormous scale, 

 in the northeastern corner of Arkansas, where the famous 

 "Sunk Lands" are situated. For years there had existed a 

 special provision in the State law by means of which certain 

 townships in Mississippi County were permitted to export ducks 

 and other wild fowl that had been killed for the game markets. 

 On the date named, in the case of the Jonesboro, Lake City & 

 Eastern Railway Co. vs. Adams, the Supreme Court of Arkan- 

 sas declared the law unconstitutional; which effectually closed 

 the Sunk Lands against the market hunters. 



Feb. 16 — In Idaho the State Legislature created, in Adams County, 

 the Black Lake State game preserve. 



Feb. 2 4. — The Oregon legislature enacted a law (Chapter 287) re- 

 organizing the State Game Commission, and making the Gov- 

 ernor of the State ex-officio chairman of that body. 



Feb. 24. — The State of Vermont enacted a deer law (No. 17 6) pro- 

 viding for an open season on female deer during the regular 

 deerhunting season of 1915. This was rendered necessary be- 

 cause under forty years of strict protection does had become so 

 numerous, and so persistent in trespassing in gardens and or- 

 chards that it became necessary to reduce their number to a 

 reasonable limit. 



Feb. 2 5. — The legislature of Wyoming, having found that several 

 years of protection had brought back the almost-exterminated 

 moose in north-western Wyoming, enacted a law providing for 

 the killing of 5 bull moose, each under a license costing $100. 

 This step is by many friends of big game regarded as unwise 

 and deplorable, on the ground that moose in Wyoming are as 

 yet by no means sufficiently numerous to justify an open sea- 

 son. 



March 5. — Indiana enacted a law (Chapter 54) wisely prohibiting 

 the use of searchlights on automobiles for the purpose of hunt- 

 ing game along highways. 



March 5. — Thanks to the efforts of Mr. John G. Brown, attorney- 

 at-law, Helena, the Montana legislature enacted a law giving 

 the mountain sheep and goats of that state a three-year close 

 season, or until Oct. 1, 1918. 



March 11. — Idaho also enacted a law (Chapter 90) prohibiting the 

 killing of mountain sheep, and females and young deer and 

 elk, for an indefinite period. This leaves only two states de- 

 linquent in the matter of mountain-sheep killing, — Wyoming 

 and Washington. 



March 11. — Arkansas enacted a law (Chapter 124) establishing for 

 the first time a game and fish commission, — a very important 

 step forward. 



March 11. — North Dakota enacted a law (Chapter 162) affording 

 deer a five-year close season, or until Nov. 20, 19 20. Thus, 

 one by one, do the deer-slaughtering states recognize the hand- 

 writing on the wall, and recognize the necessity to end all deer- 



