PREFACE. The act of Congress approved May 25, 1900, supplements existing State laws by prohibiting the shipment from one State to another of birds killed in violation of local laws, and by subjecting birds brought into a State to the same restrictions as those prescribed for birds produced within that State. Acquaintance with local laws is, therefore, essential to intelligent observance of the requirements of the Federal law, but in the absence of a complete digest of game laws it is difficult to obtain such knowledge. A compilation entitled 'Game Laws in Brief' is published quarterly, but though an excellent guide for sportsmen, it does not include penalties or provisions relating to prosecutions, and frequently omits those regarding sale. The need of a compilation that shall be brief, yet fully covering such laws as affect the game trade, is shown by the fact that shippers, transportation companies, and game dealers sometimes find themselves in the position of inadvertently violating laws, with the provisions of which they are unfamiliar and the requirements of which they have no ready means of ascertaining. To meet this demand, a compilation has been made of such sections of the various State laws as relate to transportation and sale, and tables and diagrams have been prepared showing close seasons, species prohibited from shipment and sale, limits of bags, and regulations regarding nonresident licenses. The tables relating to seasons, shipment, and sale have already been published as Circular No. 31 of the Biological Survey. While much care has been exercised in preparing this report, yet the difficulty of securing absolute accuracy in such a digest is very great, and some errors may have occurred. Sportsmen and others, therefore, are requested to report promptly any inaccuracies or omissions that may be detected. T. S. PALMER. H. W. OLDS. 5 CONTENTS. Page. Licenses for hunting or shipping game II. Federal and State laws regulating transportation and sale of game ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATES. PLATE I. Map showing States which prohibit export of game. II. Map showing States which protect pheasants and other intro duced birds for a term of years. III. Diagram showing open seasons for deer in 1900. Frontispiece. 16 IV. Diagram showing open seasons for quail in 1900. V. Diagram showing open seasons for woodcock in 1900. VI. Diagram showing open seasons for ducks in 1900.. VII. Map showing divisions proposed by Hallock code of uniform VIII. Map showing States which prohibit market hunting or sale of game at all times... 40 IX. Map showing States in which licenses are required for hunting or 42 9 |