Forest and Stream, March 7, 1914

OPEN VIOLATION.

Natural resources -- Conservation - GameSea -- Market hunting

Game killed in violation of the Virginia state laws is exposed for sale in the markets every day, and nothing is done to prevent it, according to a recent address delivered at Norfolk by Charles E. Brewster, game expert of the Department of Agriculture.

"I saw trapped ducks offered for sale right here," he said -- "game killed in violation of both your state laws and Federal statutes.

"The only way that game laws can be effectively enforced is by the employment of a game warden system, and I shall strongly advocate at every opportunity the adoption of this system in Virginia. It is impossible to enforce your present laws because you cannot get a local warden to testify against his neighbor. Virginia is one of four states that have not adopted the game warden system, and when one considers that Virginia once was the most prolific producer of all sorts of wild game this statement becomes more astounding.

"The wild turkeys that once were plentiful have nearly all been killed off. The Virginia deer, famous all over the country in its day, has become little more than a memory. What has happened to the wild turkeys and the deer will happen to the pheasants, partridge and some of the other species. The slaughter of wild ducks by pot and market hunters continues under the archaic laws of your state. The Federal government is doing everything possible to aid in the preservation of game and is interested in Virginia, because here is offered a great opportunity to see the enforcement of the Federal laws."