GAME ANIMALS. 75 



dited the first natioual legislation upon the snbject. His law has been 

 a great aid to Michigan and to all the other states in protecting game. 



The protection of game should a})i)eal to many persons besides the 

 sportsmen and trapper. All wild game is the property of the com- 

 mon people of the State, and individuals may only acquire a property 

 right therein by complying with the law. It should, therefore, like other 

 public property, be carefully administered for the public good; for under 

 proper protection and management it may continue to be one of the 

 chief attractions of the State, from which a large benefit is derived by 

 our people. A careful estimate was made by our officials for the year 

 1902. and it was shown that more than one million dollars are annually 

 left in Michigan by residents of other states who come here to hunt 

 and fish. 



A moderate gun license law would, in my judgment, add much to our 

 present game protection laws. I also believe that an excellent method 

 to pursue looking toward the protection and perpetuation of game of 

 all kinds has been proposed by Mr. H. A. Surface. Professor of Zoology 

 in the Pennsylvania State College, for '••Nature Study in the Public 

 Schools." Professor Surface says : 



"The public schools are worthy of all persons of whatever profession, 

 because in them lies the responsibility for the training of the youth of 

 our country today, who are to be the men of tomorrow. If this train- 

 ing is properh' given, we may feel confident of the future prosperity 

 of our country and the development of her resources, but if it is faulty, 

 we may justly tremble for the results. The two most important features 

 of advancement of our public schools are the general introduction of 

 nature study and the centralization of schools. 



''It is evident that if our forests are to be preserved, our fishes re- 

 stored and our game retained, it must be through the intelligent co- 

 operation of our citizens, and this will come only after there is a more 

 widespread knowledge and general interest in the subject. One of the 

 most commendable features of Nature study is that it brings persons into 

 thoughtful contact Avith nature. It is not necessary always to teach 

 morality or religion b}^ words, or is it necessary or best to tell 

 pupils, by direct sentences, of the wonderful plans of the Great Archi- 

 tect. Teach them how to see such things and to learn what is true, and 

 good, and beautiful, and they will then perceive, in a new way, the mean- 

 ing of the words of Stillingfleet : 



'Each moss, each shell, • 



Each crawling insect in the dust 



Holds a rank important in the plans of Him who fram'd their state 



of being; 

 Holds a rank which, lost, would break the chain. 

 And leave behind a gap which Nature's self would rue.' " 



C. H, Chapman, State Game Warden, 

 Sault Ste. Marie. 



