52 FISH AND GAME. 



We earnestly urge that owners of cats take heed of this, and 

 observe every precaution which will enable them to keep their 

 pets under control during the breeding season for birds. We 

 are not waging war on the pet "Tabby," friend of the fireside, 

 but on the horde of homeless cats which roam our covers and 

 breed in the open as wild cats, and which not only serve no 

 economic purpose, but take an appalling toll in the way of our 

 song, insectivorous and game birds. If you have never thought 

 this over before, make a note of the number of cats you see in 

 the open fields during the day, and that you "jack" with your 

 automobile lights on country roads at night. 



RESERVATIONS. 



Under chapter 410 of the Acts of 1911 a number of reserva- 

 tions have been established. These areas comprise the land of 

 private individuals, who, in accordance with the terms of this 

 act, have allowed the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game 

 to post the property, and in some instances, even, to do a small 

 amount of constructive work such as planting grains for the 

 winter feeding of birds. Usually the period of taking has been 

 for three years. 



While this type of reservation may serve a useful purpose, we 

 feel that the correct solution can only be found in the per- 

 manent reservation owned by the State, and of sufficient size 

 to warrant the employment of paid superintendents, who will 

 protect against poachers, kill predatory vermin, plant grain and 

 food-bearing shrubs, construct winter shelters for the birds, and 

 feed them during severe winter weather. 



The difficulties with the present system of reservations are, 

 briefly: 



(1) Term of lease too limited. 



(2) Certain owners of land inside the tract may refuse to 

 extend the period of reservation, which would either break down 

 the whole plan or else give them the opportunity to hunt over 

 their own land, thus made particularly valuable for sporting 

 purposes by having protected territory all around. 



(3) Reluctance of individual owners, even after establish- 

 ment of the reservation, to grant permission to representatives 

 of this Commission to plant grains, shrubs and trees for the 



