LEGISLATION. 19 



Carolina during the same season." The value of this bird, both to 

 the farmer and the sportsman, renders the question of its maintenance 

 and increase one of much importance. So assiduously is the bob- 

 Avhite sought by sportsmen and market hunters that intelligent iind 

 concerted efforts are needed even to maintain its present numbers. 



LEGISLATION IN BEHALF OF BOBWHITE. 



In addition to natural causes, reasons for the diminished numbers 

 of bobwhites are diversity in the open season, shooting out of sea- 

 son, excessive shooting in season, and unrestricted shooting and 

 trapping for market. Lack of uniformity in laws of adjoining 

 States, and in some cases of adjoining counties, renders their observ- 

 ance difficult and their enforcement often impossible. Xo other 

 game bird has been the subject of so much legislation, which, begin- 

 ning in New York in 1791, now extends to every State and Territory 

 where the bird is native or has been introduced. The length of sea- 

 son during which the bird should be protected by law is a matter of 

 paramount importance. It goes without saying that no shooting 

 should be permitted during the breeding season, which must be 

 understood to last until the young of the year are strong of wing and 

 fully developed for the struggle for existence. Besides this the close 

 season ought to include months of rest, during which the birds can 

 fortify themselves for the physiological strain of the next period of 

 reproduction. As now established the open season varies from 

 twenty-one days in Ohio to seven months in Mississippi. In North 

 Carolina, however, where nearly every county has its own law, the 

 bobwhite may be shot throughout the year in five counties. Virginia 

 has recently abolished county laws and established uniformity, an 

 example that other States, especially Southern States, would do well 

 to follow. It is gratifying to note that in 1903 the open seasons 

 were shortened by New York, Illinois, Texas, and Virginia. In 

 eight States — Maine, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Mon- 

 tana, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah — the bobwhite is absolutely 

 protected for a term of years, extending to 1920 in Colorado. Two 

 conditions justify such j^rohibition of shooting. First, when ex- 

 cessive shooting or other causes have made recuperation necessary; 

 second, when birds just introduced into a new locality need time to 

 establish themselves. Wherever the bird can not hold its own with 

 an open season of three \^eeks absolute protection for a period of 

 years is demanded. The length of the open season must vary with 

 varying conditions, but in view of the general decrease of the birds 

 there would seem to be a growing need for shortening it. The sooner 

 Northern States limit their shooting to one month the better. Even 



" Recreation, vol. 16, p, 372, 



