Forest and Stream, March 30, 1912

Virginia Game Laws.

Natural resources -- Conservation - Game

RICHMOND, Va., March 23. -- Editor Forest and Stream: The Virginia Legislature convened on Jan. 9 and adjourned on March 9.

The Virginia Audubon Society's legislative committee, not being satisfied with several measures which provided for the establishment of a State game commissioner with a resident and non-resident hunters' license tax, drafted a bill, following as nearly as possible the Alabama game laws.

Jennings C. Wise, who is an attorney and well-known sportsman and game protectionist, was put in charge of the measure, and with the assistance of the other officers and members of the Virginia Audubon Society, got the measure through the State Senate and only lacked six votes of having a two-thirds majority in the House. Had the measure been two days earlier in getting to the House before its dying hours and the two-thirds majority rule not needed to dispense with the constitutional reading, it would have passed this session.

Those who fought for the measure with Mr. Wise feel highly encouraged, and never before have Virginia sportsmen had a more striking illustration of the worth of such organizations as the National Association of Audubon Societies and the American Game Protective and Propagation Association, both of which assisted with money and also had their officers come here and present the real need of Virginia game protection to members of the Assembly.

Already a movement has started under the auspices of the Virginia Audubon Society which will be engineered by Mr. Wise, practically assuring the passage of the measure two years hence.

M. D. Hart.