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By a vote of twenty-four to nine, the Senate of the Virginia Legislature has passed the bill of the Farmers’ Union and the Audubon Society for the establishment of a Commission of Fisheries and Game. The bill was signed by the Governor on March 13, 1916. Thus ends a fight which the Audubon Society has led in the Virginia Legislature, session after session, for many years.
Mr. M. D. Hart, President of the Virginia Audubon Society, and others who have labored hard for the successful passage of this measure, are to be congratulated. Now, at least, we may hope for some good bird-and-game protection in that state, for the commissioner will have power to employ wardens, and will have funds with which to pay them.
The methods of selecting the local wardens is rather unusual: From a list of ten names, submitted by the boards of supervisors of the counties and the councils of cities, the commissioner will select wardens—one for each county and city in the commonwealth. In communities of less than 20,000 inhabitants these officers will be paid a salary not to exceed $50 a month. In more populous communities their monthly pay will not be in excess of $60. Special wardens may be appointed to serve for not more than $3 a day. The commissioner or any of his wardens may serve original processes as sheriffs and constables. Every hunter who leaves his own premises or those adjoining his will be required to obtain from the commissioner a hunter’s license. Residents will be charged $1 for the privilege of hunting in their county, and $3 for a state range. Non-residents may hunt anywhere in Virginia on payment of $10.
The victory in Virginia leaves only two states in the Union that have no game-warden system. These states are Florida and Mississippi, which still vie with each other for the honor of being the Rip Van Winkle state in the matter of bird-protection.
