Sept. 19, 1908.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
455 
Work of the Virginia Association. 
Richmond, Va., Sept. 7. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have just seen an article in your 
issue of the 29th ult. from “X-per” regarding 
shooting waterfowl at night in this State. The 
article mis-states the facts. 
The last Legislature amended the law relating 
to the Back Bay so as to permit shooting geese 
on its waters in the month of March only, and 
not three months in the year. It is wrong to 
shoot any game at night, especially waterfowl. 
The amendment was not passed without oppo¬ 
sition. It was warmly contested, but failing to 
secure any interest on the part of men who shoot 
in those waters, and who were thoroughly ac¬ 
quainted with the conditions, we let the matter 
drop. While in the Legislature, and last ses¬ 
sion, I tried to get the men interested in water- 
fowl shooting in Princess Anne county to send 
a committee to the Legislature and urge the 
passage of a bill that would meet local condi¬ 
tions, but without avail; could arouse no in¬ 
terest. 
From what I have gathered, interest is divided 
in that county, one class hunting for a living, 
many of whom are voters; the other owners of 
shooting grounds, many of whom are nonresi¬ 
dents. The former class accuse the latter of 
depriving them of their rights, consequently 
there is a lack of harmony. The landowners 
will be heard by the Legislature if they so de¬ 
sire and I would suggest that the hunting clubs 
on the Back Bay get together on a bag limit, 
refrain from the old time slaughter, stop shoot¬ 
ing waterfowl on March 1 and urge this as a law. 
Virginia is advancing in game protection. Last 
winter we secured an amendment to prohibit 
traffic in pheasants, grouse, quail, partridge, 
woodcock and robins with open and closed sea 
son for rabbits Nov. 1 and Feb. 1. A few con¬ 
cessions in order to secure this most desirable 
legislation were made. 
I am winding up eight years of hard work in 
the interest of game in this State with little 
support, and without the hope of fee or reward. 
With the work already done, and what can 
be done by the meeting of the Legislature of 
1910, there should be no trouble in securing for 
this State a commissioner of game, a resident 
hunting license and a correct system of wardens. 
But here comes the same old cry, “Let the other 
fellow do the work,” even spend his cash, and 
if things do not go right then comes the kick. 
Pardon me, dear editor, for taking so much 
space, and please say to “X-per” to prepare for 
his day in court and present experiences on next 
March, which will be the only month for shoot¬ 
ing geese at night on Back Bay, which can be 
enjoyed before the Legislature meets in January, 
1910. L. T. Christian, 
Secretary Game Protective Association 
of Virginia. 
There is so much good advice in a circular 
that Mr. Christian has been sending to Vir¬ 
ginians that we print it herewith: 
Richmond, Va., Aug. 1.—Dear Sir—Failing to secure 
from the last Legislature a law to create the office of 
State game commissioner, or chief warden, renders the 
work of this association more important than at any 
former period. 
The increased scarcity of game of all kinds is attract¬ 
ing general attention, and at no period has there been 
a more thorough awakening as to the necessity for the 
protection of game than at present. 
In the absence of a State Department of Game, which 
is so essential, this association desires to assist in 
creating a healthy public sentiment throughout the 
Commonwealth in the interest of game protection. 
Our game laws are most defective, in that we have no 
State official to enforce them; therefore the members of 
this association should be active in their several com¬ 
munities, and solicit the aid of all good citizens and 
county and town officials in prosecuting violations, how¬ 
ever unpleasant at times it may be. 
The excessive bag should be discouraged. The in¬ 
dividual fond of hearing the report of his gun should 
change front and content himself with a target; he 
will soon come to this unless conditions materially 
change. 
The membership of this association is about five hun¬ 
dred. We should have four times that number. Get 
busy, and bring in some good names. Under our 
new by-laws farmers are exempt from dues. The annual 
dues are $1. It is hoped that this class of our members, 
realizing the good work we are doing, will kindly assist 
the finances. We pay no salaries. Our income is spent 
for stationery, postage and prosecuting special cases. 
At this time we are in need of funds and will appreciate 
your liberality. 
Credit should be given the association for the laws we 
now have protecting game. The most important is the 
act passed last winter to prohibit either buying or sell¬ 
ing quail, pheasants, woodcock or robins at any time, 
and rabbit season made to open Nov. 1 and close Feb. 
1 , allowing the farmer to kill rabbits on his- own 
premises, if destroying his crops. Only a few States 
permit traffic in these birds at any time. Some of them 
cannot be bought or sold in any State. 
From information received, this law meets with the 
approval of every one except the market hunter. 
With sufficient funds, cards giving open season for 
all game could be posted for general information. The 
secretary of the Commonwealth will furnish copies of 
the game laws to any one upon application and two 
cents for postage. 
If your county is without game wardens, will you not 
take necessary steps to secure their appointment? In 
every community there is no doubt a conservative cit¬ 
izen willing to take the task if he has the support of 
the neighborhood. In a few years we hope to see all 
wardens sufficiently paid. 
At present there are wardens in forty counties; sixty 
without. Would also suggest that in some counties it 
might be well to revise the appointments. Look into 
this. 
Vast quantities of game can be saved by a little 
energy. Foxes, coons and mink deserve attention. 
Spring hunting with dog and gun is best for foxes; 
steel trap or mash trap for coons. Steel trap set in a 
branch with bird suspended, say about twelve inches 
above it, is a sure catch for a mink. This is not only 
pleasant but profitable pastime for the boys; why not 
encourage them? 
Dogs of no kinds which hunt the fields or bush 
should be allowed to run at large during the summer 
months. An earnest warfare against the enemies of 
game will develop in educating the masses for its pro¬ 
tection, which is, after all, our chief motive. 
The citizenship of this State is appealed to for its 
earnest co-operation to cope with local conditions, and 
the results will be astonishing. 
Dr. J. B. Fisher, President, 
Midlothian, Va. 
L. T. Christian, Secretary. 
Richmond, Va. 
N. B.—Kindly remit one dollar dues and get mem¬ 
bership card for 1908. 
The National Beagle Club of .’America. 
Camden, N. J., Sept. 12.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: During the nineteenth annual Field 
Trials of the National Beagle Club of America, 
to be held at Chase City, Mecklenburg county, 
Va., commencing Oct. 23, 1908, the National 
Beagle Club of America will hold a dog show 
for beagles. 
This will be the second annual show of the 
club. The first annual show, held during the 
trials of 1907, was so popular and successful 
that the club has decided to hold a one-day show 
annually during the field trials. 
Charles R. Stevenson, Sec’y. 
Adirondack Conditions. 
Little Falls, N. Y., Sept, g.—Editor Forest 
and Stream: Although I have not been over 
any of the grounds myself, it appears from 
sundry reports that the supply of ruffed grouse 
is somewhat larger this year than last. A few 
flocks of eight or ten young birds have been seen 
along the edge of the big woods and there are 
some scattered birds in the woodlots, but the 
supply is far from as plentiful as in former 
years. A strict close season for from three to- 
five years should be had. 
I anticipate that partridges and rabbits wilt 
have trouble to hold their own during the next 
few years. The new forest, fish and game law 
will make for the increase of mink, marten, 
fishers and foxes through the prohibition of the 
killing of marten before 1910. This law to pre¬ 
vent marten killing appears to have been in¬ 
spired by the desire of the State department to 
keep trappers out of the woods in winter. One 
could not trap in the Adirondacks without get¬ 
ting marten. 
Whether or not the trappers kill enough deer 
out of season to make up for the destruction 
which their victims would mete out to small 
game is questionable. I do not believe many 
deer are killed by trappers these days. They 
certainly do not dare use them for bait, and if 
they carry venison in the’- -'acks they realize 
their peril. The trappers whom I know declare 
that the fact the game laws are now enforced 
against high as well as low gives the woodsman 
no excuse for killing game out of season. A 
little favoritism will do more harm with regard 
to game preservation than anything else. 
Thus all northern Herkimer county is talking 
to-day about an incident a few weeks ago. A 
fisherman came from Little Black Creek to Fred 
Hubbard’s hotel on the West Canada in the 
town of Wilmurt. A game warden drove up to 
the hotel at that moment and seized the fish 
basket. A “city sport” fisherman, so far as 
dress was concerned, and identified as a New 
York State senator, seized the basket from the 
opposite side. Then the game warden, the fisher¬ 
man and the State senator went into the hotel, still 
holding the basket. What happened wdthin, or 
whether the warden discovered any fish of illegal 
size, and whether the State senator used his 
power, are questions that agitate the woodsmen. 
Of course the woodsmen infer that somebody 
was saved from prosecution, and they will not 
hesitate to kill an extra deer or two this fall 
because of their inference that “politics saved 
’em.” Of course, so long as the politicians have 
any say with regard to the appointment of game 
wardens, trouble from favoritism or alleged 
favoritism is likely to be had. 
It seems to me that if the preservation of the 
State’s forests, fish and game is to be put on 
a sane and safe basis, the appointments should 
be made through civil service examinations. In 
this way men familiar with woodcraft, game 
lands and fish conditions could be brought into 
the service without recourse to political recom¬ 
mendations. I know that under the present for¬ 
est, fish and game commission, conditions in the 
Adirondacks have improved almost beyond, be¬ 
lief, and yet a little incident, such as narrated, 
does infinite damage. Such must be guarded 
against. 
