PREFACE. 
The act of Congress approved May 25, 1900, requires the Secretary 
of Agriculture to collect and publish, from time to time, useful infor- 
mation concerning" the preservation of game and other biixls. In 
accordance with this provision it has been deemed important to pub 
lish a digest of the game Uiavs embodying the numerous changes made 
during the present 3'ear. 
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 Regulating the Transportation and Sale 
of Game.' and the issue of a new report has afforded an opportunity 
for making certain important additions, inchiding 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 l)een 
rearranged. As the bulletin now stands it is practicallv 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 from 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 
