54 Decrease of Birds 



reduction in the number of guns in the hands of irrespon- 

 sible people will result in a saving of human life as well 

 as bird life. 



On February 15, 1916, the three following questions 

 were sent to the fifty observers who had replied to the 

 first request for information in the seventeen counties 

 having the resident hunting license law, viz: Barnwell, 

 Beaufort, Calhoun, Charleston, Chester, Darlington, Dil- 

 lon, Dorchester, Florence, Greenville, Hampton, Jasper, 

 Laurens, Lexington, Marion, Oconee and Orangeburg: 



1. What effect has the resident hunting license law 

 which went into effect in your county on July 1, 1915, had 

 on the protection of game and non-game birds, and in 

 what way? 



2. Has the law been well enforced? 



3. Can you suggest any improvement in the present law 

 so as to make it a more effective instrument for the pro- 

 tection of wild birds and other game? 



Of the forty-two replies received, forty-one contained 

 answers to question 1: thirty-five reported effects good; 

 three, no effects; three, not informed. 



As regards the beneficial effects: twenty-four reported 

 reduction in number of hunters; ten, reduction in number 

 of negro hunters; one, reduction in number of professional 

 town hunters; one, prevention of shooting before season 

 opened. 



The three respondents in whose opinion the law has 

 been of no effect wrote as follows: Mr. W. R. Hale, 

 Greenville: "I think the law has had but little effect, prac- 

 tically none in protecting birds ;" Mr. J. L. Wessinger, 

 Lexington; "It did not have any effect because those who 

 wanted to hunt bought licenses and hunted :" Mr. G. C. 

 Cabell, Orangeburg: "I think the resident hunting license 

 law a farce. It has no effect whatever in protecting the 

 birds, but has the effect of prohibiting the poor white 

 man and negro from hunting squirrels and rabbits. 



