48 FISH AND GAME. 



PHEASANTS. 



How many pheasants are there in the State of Massachu- 

 setts? Most reliable estimates put it at some 100,000, not 

 including those kept at the State game farms. The large 

 supply of these birds shows the result of adequate protection 

 coupled with extensive propagation. This game bird was intro- 

 duced into Massachusetts in 1894. At the present time the ring- 

 necked variety forms the entire output from our game farms. 

 The production of the Reeves pheasant has been discontinued. 



In 1914, 8,943 were killed during the open season, but in 

 1916 only 3,133, which was due not so much to lack of numbers 

 as to the increased wariness on the part of the bird. Yet 

 there are persons who maintain that the pheasant is as "tame" 

 as a domestic fowl. Certainly since the first open season the 

 birds seem to exhibit a surprising celerity in repossessing 

 themselves of their natural instincts, by no means the least of 

 which is the evasion of hunters. 



At various times considerable discussion has arisen as to the 

 injurious effect of the pheasant upon the ruffed grouse. We 

 have tried to obtain affidavits from people making such claims, 

 but have been unable to obtain any trustworthy evidence so 

 far. Observations show that the pheasant usually frequents an 

 entirely different cover than the grouse. Although they may 

 be found in grouse country, they prefer the tall grass and 

 swampy areas along the water courses. Mr. William L. Finley, 

 biologist of the State of Oregon, made the following personal 

 statement to Mr. William C. Adams, chairman of the Massa- 

 chusetts Commission on Fisheries and Game:- 



Prior to the liberation of Chinese, or ring-necked, pheasants in Oregon, 

 ruffed grouse were perhaps more abundant through the Willamette valley 

 than through any section of the State. Pheasants were first liberated in 

 the Willamette valley and multiplied very rapidly. Since that time 

 ruffed grouse have decreased in number, but I do not believe it comes 

 from other than natural conditions; that is, clearing out patches of brush, 

 cutting trees and draining swamps. We have absolutely no evidence to 

 prove that the Chinese pheasants have in any way been injurious to the 

 ruffed grouse. They occupy the same country, yet the Chinese pheasants 

 are largely birds of the field, while the ruffed grouse are birds of the thicket 

 and deeper woods. 



