62 FISH AND GAME. 



ENFORCEMENT. 



The enforcement of the Fish and Game Laws has always been an uphill 

 struggle, ever since the first was enacted in 1641. That section of the old 

 beach law, which said that fishing and fowling should be free to all, has 

 been well established in the public mind, but that part stating "unless 

 otherwise ordered by the Legislature" has been easily forgotten or inten- 

 tionally overlooked. In the early days the supply greatly exceeded the 

 demand, but to-day a great and increasing population makes use of these 

 assets, and exploits many natural supplies for commercial purposes. In 

 spite of the valuable information which has been printed in conservation 

 pamphlets, actual results have been much less than reasonably were 

 expected. The cause is obviously due to carelessness upon the part of the 

 general public, and to a blind faith that our natural resources can never 

 be exhausted. 



In most fish and game laws the prevailing idea has been to prevent the 

 extinction of the natural supply. Opposition to these measures has arisen 

 because certain persons had been in the habit of ruthlessly exploiting our 

 natural resources, and, as is to be expected, such people have an innate 

 grievance against protective laws. Indeed, it is difficult to impress many 

 with the fact that by a little care and foresight in putting back undersized 

 fish their catch will soon be worth at least three times as much, since they 

 fear that someone else may get a share. Their motto seems to be, "Keep 

 all you get, get all you can. Let future generations take care of them- 

 selves." Such people, for the welfare of the majority, must be restrained 

 either by education or by force. 



MIGRATORY BIRD LAW. 



The suspension of spring shooting through the two successive seasons 

 of 1914 and 1915 has had a most beneficial effect on the birds. The 

 Federal authorities claim, and reports from several parts of the State 

 indicate, that last spring the birds were observed in greater numbers than 

 for some years past. The United States government has received replies 

 as to the effect of the Federal migratory bird law, which went into effect 

 in 1913. Forty states report that an extraordinary increase in waterfowl 

 has taken place during the short period the law has been in effect. The 

 increase is commonly stated according to the locality to be from 10 to 

 several hundred per cent., and includes such important species as mallards, 

 black ducks, widgeon, blue-winged teal, green- winged teal, wood ducks, 

 canvasbacks, Canada geese and swans, not to mention many other shore 

 birds. 



FEDERAL WARDENS. 



Two hundred wardens have been appointed throughout the United 

 States to serve under the Federal migratory bird law. These men receive 

 no remuneration outside of a nominal sum of $1 per month, and their 



