PREFACE. 



The act of Congress approved May 25, 1900, supplements existing 

 State laws by prohibiting the shipment from one State to another of 

 birds killed in violation of local laws, and by subjecting birds brought 

 into a State to the same restrictions as those prescribed for birds 

 produced within that State. Acquaintance with local laws is, therefore, 

 essential to intelligent observance of the requirements of the Federal 

 law, but in the absence of a complete digest of game laws it is diffi- 

 cult to obtain such knowledge. A compilation entitled * Game Laws 

 in Brief ' is published quarterly, but though an excellent guide for 

 sportsmen, it does not include penalties or provisions relating to 

 prosecutions, and frequently omits those regarding sale. The need 

 of a compilation that shall be brief, yet fully covering such laws as 

 affect the game trade, is shown by the fact that shippers, transporta- 

 tion companies, and game dealers sometimes find themselves in the 

 position of inadvertently violating laws, with the provisions of which 

 they are unfamiliar and the requirements of which they have no ready 

 means of ascertaining. To meet this demand, a compilation has been 

 made of such sections of the various State laws as relate to transpor- 

 tation and sale, and tables and diagrams have been prepared show- 

 ing close seasons, species prohibited from shipment and sale, limits 

 of bags, and regulations regarding nonresident licenses. The tables 

 relating to seasons, shipment, and sale have already been published 

 as Circular No. 31 of the Biological Survey. 



While much care has been exercised in preparing this report, yet 

 the difficulty of securing absolute accuracy in such a digest is very 

 great, and some errors may have occurred. Sportsmen and others, 

 therefore, are requested to report promptly any inaccuracies or omis- 

 sions that may be detected. 



T. S. Palmer. 

 H. W. Olds. 

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