Forest and Stream, August 29, 1908

Bad Laws in Virginia.

Natural resources -- Conservation - GameSea -- Market hunting

Editor Forest and Stream:

Permit me to call your attention and through you the attention of all interested in the protection of game to a vicious law enacted by the Legislature of Virginia at its last session.

There is a law in Virginia entitled "An Act to regulate and restrict shooting and to prevent the destruction of wildfowl in the waters of Back Bay and its tributaries in the county of Princess Anne."

Whatever may be the merits or demerits of that law, it certainly forbade shooting at night. The Legislature at its recent session passed two amendments to that law, the first reading as follows: "Section 1. * * * Provided, however that the provisions of this act shall not apply to the shooting of wild geese at night between the first day of March and the first day of April in each year." The second is "Section 6. Provided that nothing in this act shall be so construed as to prohibit shooting a duck known as a 'peter' or 'blue peter," in any way or at any time after the last day of February until the last day of April of each year." Chapter 230, Laws of Va., 1908 (Italics ours.)

Heretofore, as everyone knows, there has been enough of night shooting in those waters, the law prohibiting night shooting being "more honored in the breach than the observance"; but by the above amendments not only is spring shooting encouraged, but night shooting is permitted for three months of the year. One would think that as wildfowl can be shot for more than six months in the year, that day time would be sufficient for such shooting. If the present law be indulged in, it is safe to predict every living thing in those waters that can fly will be driven therefrom.

Comment on the law is not necessary. It will be denounced by every man, woman and child outside of the county of Princess Anne that may hear of the law, and if ghosts walk, the gracious Princess for whom that county is named will disturb the miscreants who shoot wildfowl during the night season.

Of course, it is only fair to conclude that the amendments were passed through the Legislature by the trickery of some one. The bill was probably never read by the members and those that voted for it were most likely moved by its title and made no further inquiry, as it would be difficult to conceive the Legislature of Virginia understandingly voting for night shooting.

It is to be hoped that when the people of Virginia read of this law they will rise in their wrath, denounce the bill, the chicanery which passed in and demand its immediate repeal; and in order to prevent the passage of such laws in future that they will insist upon the passage of a law providing for a State game commissioner.

XPER.