38 Decrease of Birds 



reported to the auditor, five hundred and forty-four more 

 were added by the census taker. Mr. Hartwell M. Ayer, 

 a member of the school board, writes: "The census taker 

 did not get half the number as it is. I, for one, can add 

 a dozen to their list, but they got all they could see around 

 the places, and that the people would admit they had. 

 They would deny owning a dog that barked at the census 

 taker when he went into the yard." It is probable that 

 this condition of affairs is typical of what exists in other 

 parts of the State. 



Not only do hungry roaming dogs do immense damage in 

 summer by destroying birds and living on the community 

 generally, but they are a great menace on account of 

 hydrophobia. The dog population of the State should be 

 reduced, not only from principles of economy and as a 

 safeguard to the health of the community, but from 

 humane sentiments also. 



The Barbarous Practice of Dove Baiting 



There are only two States in the South in which dove 

 baiting, or shooting doves over baited fields, is practiced. 

 South Carolina is one of them. The sportsmen of Georgia 

 brought about the cessation of the custom in their state 

 several years ago. 



Doves flock to baited fields in large numbers. In order 

 to have the birds come within easy range, gunners erect 

 blinds from which they^J)our forth a murderous fire with 

 pump and automatic guns. The doves which escape the 

 first deadly assault return for the next volley, and this 

 they continue to do, in reduced numbers thruout the day, 

 giving the shooters an opportunity to fire at each dove 

 time and time again. 



The reports show that the counties in which dove baiting 

 prevails to a large extent are: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, 

 Calhoun, Orangeburg, Spartanburg, Edgefield, Hampton, 

 Jasper and Kershaw. To a lesser degree it is practiced in 

 Abbeville, Saluda, Anderson, Lexington, Beaufort, Rich- 

 land, Sumter, Charleston, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, 

 Horry and Lee. 



