50 Decrease of Birds 



The presence of large numbers of any species of birds 

 in any locality, is not always conclusive evidence that they 

 are up to some mischief. More often the opposite is the 

 case. Only two or three species of hawks and one of owls 

 are injurious. It is a good business proposition to learn to 

 distinguish the beneficial from the harmful ones, and the 

 former should certainly be included in the list of birds 

 protected by the State. 



Season Limit 



Of the eignteen observers who made suggestions in 

 regard to the season limit, eight advocate a reduction of 

 the close season, and ten suggest a close season of differ- 

 ent periods on all game birds or on certain species only. 



Mr. R. M. Cooper, Jr., a sportsman of Lee, writes: 

 "Reduce hunting season (for instance on Partridges) to 

 months of December and January.' ' Mr. G. C. Cabell, 

 Orangeburg, suggests: "The bird season should open 

 December 1, and close January 31. That will give all lov- 

 ers of the sport ample time to hunt." Mr. T. W. Brunson, 

 Jr., Hampton, suggests: "Cut hunting season from March 

 15, to February 15." Mr. G. A. Malloy, Chesterfield, 

 writes: "Allow no hunting for three years or cut hunting 

 season one-half." Mr. Frank Hampton, Richland, sug- 

 gests: "A short season and the same for everything. No 

 dove shooting in August. Start when the bird season 

 opens November 15, or later and when the gun is put away 

 let it be until the next 15th of November." 



Mr. W. R. Smith, Sr., Newberry, writes: "All hunting 

 should be prohibited for three years. Otherwise our game 

 birds will be exterminated in less than five years." Mr. 

 L. W. Boykin, Kershaw, suggests: "A close season on 

 Wood Duck for five years or three years at least." Mr. 

 G. E. Holland, Newberry, writes: "There should be a law 

 to prohibit the killing of birds for at least two years, and 

 be much restricted after this." "Shorter open seasons 

 will help, but unless the season is made of uniform length, 

 it is ineffectual to shorten season on one species; for when 

 men are in the fields with guns in their hands all game 



