Maryland Conservationist 
Spring Issae, 1934 
 
/ Ancient I 
W E are very much indebted to Mr. 
Samuel H. Feldstein, 405 First Na- 
tional Bank Building, Baltimore, Libra- 
rian of the University of Maryland Li- 
brary, who has delved into the past and 
located some very interesting legislation 
enacted when Maryland was still a col- 
ony, which we are pleased to quote as 
follows: 
"The first legislation of Maryland on 
the subject of conservation of deer was 
the act of 1730, Chapter 17, which was 
'an act for the preservation of the breed 
of wild deer (Lib. L. No. 5, Fol. 370)'; 
the preamble bf this Act was as follows: 
'whereas it has been represented to this 
general assembly that the species of deer 
hath of late years been very much less- 
ened, occasioned principally by the in- 
habitants shooting or otherwise destroy- 
ing them during the time of the female 
deer being with young, and which evil 
practice if not put a stop to, may in a 
few years entirely destroy, species of the 
deer to the great damage of the good 
 
"'It shall not be lawful for any per 
within this province, (the Indians in i 
ity with us excepted) from the end 
this season of assembly to the last 
of July of this present year and in ev 
year afterwards between the first 
of January and the last day of July, 
kill any deer, under the penalty of 
pounds of tobacco for each deer so kil 
to be recovered before a single ma 
trate (as in cases of small debts) by 
oath of the informer and to be appl 
the one-half thereof to the use of 
public school of the county where s 
offense shall be committed, and ot 
half to the use of the person so info 
ing.' 
"'That any person in whose hands 
custody any deers' flesh shall be fou 
that shall appear to have been ki 
between the end of this present sess 
of assembly and the last day of July 
this present year, and in each y 
afterwards between the first day of J 
uary and the 1st day of July, shall 
deemed, taken and adjudged to be, 
killer of such deer, and liable to 
penalty aforesaid, unless such per 
make appear before magistrate whc 
 
Legislation 
was that really killed the 
whom such person or perso 
sessed, received the same. 
" 'That it is the true int 
ing of this act, that the li 
the Indians aforesaid shall 
the killing of deer for the 
and not for sale, and that 
lawful for any inhabitar 
province under the penalt 
be recovered as aforesaid 
aforesaid, to purchase any 
any part thereof, of any 
dians within the time pr, 
act to kill deer in.' 
"Further acts for the p 
deer for the year 1800 was 
Chapter 5, 1795, Chapter 
Chapter 18. These acts 
regulations in respect to c 
deer in various counties , 
NOTE: In this issue, we also 
lion to an article entitled "Ki 
Save our Birds and Fowl" and 
the press on the crow-shoot. Info 
therein was furnished by Mr. F( 
 
.reent saaw s for. the sl .                  w 
present scalps for taxes.