Washington D.C.
From the number of letters which they have received on the subject recently, officials of the department of Agriculture believe that sportsmen may unintentionally violate the provisions of the Federal Migratory Bird Law, which it is the purpose of the Government to enforce rigidly. Under the provisions of this law no water fowl can be shot in the northern or breeding zone after January 15, except in New Jersey where the season extends to February 1. In most of the southern or wintering zone the season closes February 1, but extends to February 15 in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. These regulations were proclaimed on October 1, 1914. No change has since been made in them and no change is likely to be made until the constitutionality of the law has been passed out by the U.S. Supreme Court. As a matter of fact, the law provides that all changes in the regulations must be considered for a period of 90 days, and then must be approved and signed by the President, before they become effective. It is thus evident that there is no possibility that the prohibition of spring shooting will be in any way modified this year.
The officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture who are entrusted with the enforcement of the law are anxious that these facts be impressed upon the people because it is the intention to investigate carefully all reports of violations made to the department’s inspectors and wardens and to prosecute all such violations in the Federal courts. In this connection it is pointed out that prosecutions may be instituted at any time within three years of the offense.
