56 SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO 



in automobiles went out daily along the highways and byways 

 all over Texas, and around the streams, tanks and water holes, 

 doves coming for water were killed by the thousands, and in 

 many instances the young doves were left to perish in the nests. 

 Although September and October are closed months for quail 

 and other game birds, it is a well known fact that the majority 

 of the dove hunters in those months, killed anything and every- 

 thing they came across with feathers or fur, and paid little atten- 

 tion to bag limits. This may suit some of the "practical sports- 

 men" and no doubt furnished fun for a lot of irresponsible people, 

 but it can hardly be called "sport." In this connection I 

 desire to call particular attention to the following extract from 

 a letter to the newspapers in February last from Mr. W. Goodrich 

 Jones of Temple, President of the Texas Fish & Game Protective 

 Association, the well known champion of wild life in Texas, who 

 is well posted in regard to the situation : 



"Texas has a longer hunting season than any other State in the 

 Union. In other States the limit runs from 30 to 60 days, while here 

 the shooting begins on September 1st and continues until February 1st. 

 Five months, think of it. No breed of birds or animals can stand such 

 ceaseless bombardment. True, the law says that from September 1st to 

 December 1st the hunter shall kill only doves, while from December 1st 

 until February 1st quail are in season. It would be just as sensible to 

 turn a whole school of children into a candy store, letting out the 

 proprietor and clerks, and tell the children that they could eat only 

 peppermints from 4 till 5 o'clock and chocolates from 5 to 6 o'clock." 



Among sports and pastimes, hunting, shooting and fishing are 

 considered the world over, as being most desirable and suitable 

 forms of recreation, and for centuries past have provided healthy 

 exercise, pleasure and profit for all classes of people. The real 

 sportsman who believes in legitimate hunting within reasonable 

 limits, and who, for success, depends upon his own skill, courage 

 and endurance, is invariably a true gentleman in every sense of 

 the word. Included in this class are some of the greatest and 

 best men who have ever lived, and among them are those to whom 

 the world will everlastingly owe debts of gratitude for valuable 

 services rendered to humanity. Most of the world's famous 

 scientists, explorers, missionaries, statesmen, educators and other 

 prominent men, were renowned in their day as fearless hunters, 

 keen sportsmen or expert anglers. The true sportsman is 

 possessed of a natural love or inclination for hunting, shooting 

 and fishing, and he is not influenced by selfish interests, 

 mercenary motives, personal gain or commercial considerations. 

 The best class of sportsmen are always in favor of game protec- 

 tion and the enforcement of reasonable game laws. They cheer- 

 fully comply with the hunting regulations themselves, and realize 



