252 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and fish commissioners and other persons contain incontrovertible 

 evidence that since the law became effective there has been in most of 

 the States a very marked increase in the number of wild fowl and 

 shorebirds; that wild fowl have become unusually tame in spring; 

 and that many thousands of waterfowl are breeding in certain locali- 

 ties where they had not nested for many years. The consensus of 

 opinion attributes these greatly improved conditions to the abolition 

 of spring shooting and the general observance of the regulations. 

 These results following so soon after its enactment have proved the 

 efficacy of the law and are an earnest of the results to come. 



