76 FISH AND GAME. 



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The future of this bird is somewhat problematical. That it 

 can be saved from extinction, barring an epidemic or unusual 

 disaster appears to have been demonstrated. The most in- 

 teresting result of the work, which has largely consisted in the 

 development of a typical farm in the center of the reservation, 

 where the birds could find an abundance of food and relative 

 freedom from enemies, has been the fact that even from a 

 small number of birds rather rapid increase may be secured. 



The efficiency of these birds as insect destroyers was demon- 

 strated by the fact that in 1914, when the grass and corn on the 

 rest of the island were practically destroyed by an incursion of 

 army worms, our reservation presented a green oasis in the 

 desert. The application of the methods adopted here promise 

 success on similar reservations as a means of saving the rem- 

 nants of the various species of grouse and allied birds in the 

 middle and western States, notably the sage cock, the sharp- 

 tail, pinnated and other grouse. The problem for the people 

 to determine is whether saving the remnant of these birds, with 

 the possibility of restoring them to suitable localities where 

 they may again be naturalized and maintained, is worth while. 



Deer. 



Deer are becoming more numerous in all sections of the 

 State, although many are annually killed by farmers, dogs, 

 railroad trains, trolley cars, and even automobiles, in addition 

 to the number killed in open and closed season. This increase 

 through protection has caused considerable trouble to the farm- 

 ers whose crops have been damaged, with the result that the 

 State in some instances has had to pay large damages. How- 

 ever, the open season for hunting and the privilege of killing 

 deer damaging crops have done much to bring about more 

 amicable relations between hunters and farmers. 



Damage to Crops. - - The following quotation from the collec- 

 tions of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 2d series, Vol. 4, 

 footnote to page 284, is of interest as the first record justifying 

 the shooting of deer damaging crops : - 



About the year 1730, John Rider of Plymouth killed three deer at a 

 shot in that town. It was in a summer season, in a rye field. ... It was 

 out of season by law to kill deer. The Superior Court, then in session in 

 that town, excused the man on the spot, it being in protection of his 

 standing grain. 



