14 DIGEST OF GAME LAWS FOR 1901. 



were extended to practically every State and Territory and to most of 

 the Provinces of Canada. The simple provisions of the earlier statutes 

 are no long"er sufficient, and the modern g-ame laws of some of the 

 States are really codes covering such subjects as seasons, methods 

 of capturing game of all kinds, conditions for shipping to market, 

 sale, permits to collect scientific specimens, taking, keeping, and ship- 

 ping birds and animals for propagation, employment of guides, duties 

 of game commissioners and wardens, besides various provisions neces- 

 sary for enforcement, such as search, seizure, and disposition of game. 

 These laws are subject to such frequent change that in certain States 

 scarcely a session of the legislature passes without the enactment of 

 amendments of some kind. In 1879 New York adopted a complete 

 and carefully prepared statute which remained in force for fifteen 

 years or more, but by 1895 no less than 211 amendments or special 

 acts had been passed, and the original law was greatly obscured.^ 



Without attempting to follow the development of game legislation 

 in detail, the growth of game laws may be illustrated by briefly 

 sketching the changes in those of Maine, now one of the foremost States 

 in legislation of this kind. The first State law of Maine was apparently 

 that of March 16, 1830, which prohibited killing deer and moose 

 between January 1 and September 1, under a penalty of $15. This 

 season was subsequently modified at intervals (see below), but the list 

 of protected game was not extended until 1863, when a close season 

 was provided for quail between March 1 and September 1, and for 

 woodcock between March 1 and July 4.^ In 1866 protection was given 

 fur-bearing animals, including mink, beaver, sable, fisher, otter, and 

 miiskrats. In 1870 protection was accorded caribou, and the bird list 

 was extended by the addition of grouse or partridges, snipe, and a few 

 insectivorous birds, such as larks, robins, swallows, and sparrows. 

 The capture of ducks except with firearms was prohibited. In 1879 

 plover were added to the game list and a close season (May 1 to Sep- 

 tember 1), which remained in force for twenty years, was established 

 for wood ducks, dusky or black ducks, and sea ducks. In 1883 the non- 

 game bird list was extended to include orioles or other insectivorous 

 birds, and finally, in 1901, was made to include all wild birds other 

 than game, except crows, hawks, owls, and English sparrows. 



As early as 1852 it became necessary to have special officers to 

 enforce the game laws, and county moose wardens were appointed, but 

 in the following year these were replaced by county and town moose 

 wardens. In 1880 the board ^f commissioners of inland fisheries and 

 game was established, now consisting of three commissioners. 



1 Whitehead, 1. c, p. 373. 



^ It is interesting to observe that this early law recognized the importance of mak- 

 ing no distinction between State and imported birds and prohibited buying or selling 

 birds taken in Maine or elsewhere. 



