PREFACE 



The act of Congress approved May 25, 1900, requires the Secretary 

 of Ag-riculture to collect and publish, from time to time, useful infor- 

 mation concerning the preservation of game and other birds. In 

 accordance with this provision it has been deemed important to pub 

 lish a digest of the game laws embodying the numerous changes made 

 during the present year. 



In the spring of 1901 legislative sessions were held in about forty 

 States and Territories, and in nearly all amendments to the game laws 

 were enacted. Numerous changes were made in the old laws, amount- 

 ing to 200 or more in the matter of close seasons alone. This multitude 

 of amendments has necessitated a thorough revision of the bulletin 

 issued in 1900, entitled 'Laws Kegulating the Transportation and Sale 

 of Game,' and the issue of a new report has afforded an opportunity 

 for making certain important additions, including a chapter on Federal 

 game laws, a digest of the county laws of Virginia, and incorporation 

 of the provisions of the Canadian laws. Expeiience has shown that 

 while much stress is laid on close seasons, comparatively little impor 

 tance is attached to violations of other provisions of game laws. It 

 does not seem to be generall}^ recognized that killing game by illegal 

 methods, in excess of the number allowed by law, or for unlawful pur- 

 poses, is as serious an offense as killing game out of season. In order 

 to emphasize this point, a special chapter on methods has been intro- 

 duced and some of the other sections in the former report have been 

 rearranged. As the bulletin now stands it is practically a complete 

 digest of existing Federal, State, and Provincial laws relating to the 

 capture, shipment, and sale of game. It has been possible, how- 

 ever, to give -this information only in the most condensed form. 

 Attention is called to the tables at the end of the bulletin in which the 

 close seasons under State and Provincial laws for all the more impor- 

 tant game of the United States and Canada are brought together for 

 ready reference, and similarly close seasons for the principal game 

 protected in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, under county 

 laws. It has been possible to give extracts Irom the laws only in the 

 cases of sections relating to shipment and sale. All provisions relating 

 to enforcement of laws, appointment and duties of game commissions 

 and wardens, procedure, search, and disposition of confiscated game 



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