PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 59 



maintain the game supply in Massachusetts is by game fann- 

 ing. The only way to insure the perpetuation of game as a 

 food supply is to rear the birds and animals in a state of semi- 

 domestication, whereby, protected from natural enemies, the 

 increase may be utilized for food and sport, without seriously 

 diminishing the stock. Game farm methods should not only 

 relieve the drain upon the wild stock, but also should increase 

 the wild stock by the number of individuals which escape and 

 return to the wild state. 



Private Game Farms. - - Notable progress has been made in 

 rearing game birds at State game farms, and the same can be 

 done on private preserves. Under chapter 567 of the Acts of 

 1913, a person, firm or corporation may receive a permit for 

 the rearing of birds and quadrupeds for sale alive, and can ac- 

 quire the privilege of propagating within an enclosure any 

 species of deer, elk, pheasants, quail, European or gray part- 

 ridge, wild geese, wild ducks or squirrels, which can be sold, 

 exchanged or given away for the purpose of propagation. When 

 sold for food, dead or alive, a second permit is required, and a 

 numbered tag is prescribed, which is applied by the seller 

 either before or immediately after the birds are killed. Each 

 person receiving a permit to propagate birds or quadrupeds 

 according to this act is required to make a written report re- 

 garding the results of the efforts at game propagation to the 

 Commissioners on Fisheries and Game on December 1 of each 

 year. These permits do not give the right to trap wild birds 

 contrary to present or future laws. In 1913 a total of 566 

 permits were issued under the above act, 517 for propagation 

 only and 49 for the breeding of game for sale dead or alive. 

 In 1914, 449 permits were given for propagation and 50 for 

 sale. 



State Game Reservations. 



Chapter 410 of the Acts of 1911 permitted the establishment 

 of State bird and game preserves for the protection and propa- 

 gation of wild birds and quadrupeds. This type of work should 

 be undertaken by public-spirited citizens, upon whom rests the 

 real initiative. The areas should be of a comparatively large 

 size, with well defined boundaries, to insure good results, which 

 can be obtained by the co-operation of several adjacent land- 

 owners. 



