AS A CONSERVATIONIST 389 



Shortly after the turn of the century, the business was outlawed in very nearly all north- 

 eastern states. Because of the control which existed at the consuming end, these laws have 

 been generally very effective. Very few hotels or restaurants are willing to deal in illegal 

 foods. Without a market, the market hunter is doomed. 



Thus, while even today this profession still exists in a small way. the laws bringing about 

 its abolition have been almost wholly successful in New York. 



Seasons for Hunting 



Generally speaking, the trend has been uniformly toward shorter and shorter seasons. From 

 the time when no seasonal restrictions existed, the period in which legal hunting could be done 

 in New York was cut from 36.5 days a year to zero in 1928 and 1929, while more recently it 

 has been about one month to six weeks. 



Elliott™ says, "The practice of slaughtering the young, even while under the mother's care, 

 . . . cannot be too severely condemned". This view became dominant by 1903 when shoot- 

 ing was restricted to the fall of the year. Since 1930, the season has varied from three to 

 six weeks, taking place between October 1 and November 30. Except during periods of 

 scarcity, a one-month season is fully justified and, in the considered opinion of the Investiga- 

 tion, in peak years a longer season of six to eight weeks would not he loo long. The high 

 fall populations of peak years are likely to drop severely anyway and the more that are taken 

 by hunters, U]) to a certain ])oint, the fewer will die from other causes. 



Seasons can be properly allocated on]\ on the basis of po|)ulation status. Obviously, then, 

 they cannot be legislated far in advance. Unless the authority to regulate seasons is dele- 

 gated to the executive game officer, a moderate season must be legislated. 



Ba(; Limits 



Reduction in bag limit in New York has paralleled the shortening of open seasons. The 

 first bag limit, 36 birds per season, was established in 1900. A limit of 4 per day and 20 

 per season was in effect from 1908 to 1919. During 1920 and 1921, the limit was 2 birds per 

 day and 10 per season. For the past 21 years the limit has been 3 birds per day and 15 per 

 season except in 1928 and 1929, when there were no open seasons. Laws limiting daily bag 

 limits are reasonably effective as are those limiting legal open seasons. Those who 

 are inclined to take more than the law allows are deterred by a real possibility of apprehen- 

 sion. But seasonal limits are only as effective as the conscience of each hunter dictates. How 

 effective this is we do not presume to know but there is no question as to the desirability of 

 seasonal bag limits. 



Observations in New York lead us to believe that the current three and 15 bag limit is bt)th 

 reasonable and justified. 



Methods of Take 



The literature has been generous with records of the devices and methods that have been 

 used to bag grouse, all of which might well represent a historical pattern of American hunt- 

 ing. In 1812. Wilson"", states that they usually are taken by traps in deep snows while 

 Audubon^, noted that many were taken with dead falls with a figure-four trigger. Elliott"^, 

 writing in 1897. records that great numbers were snared by the Indians, and Judd'"^ tells that 

 many market hunters used a little cur dog trained to tree grouse and bark until the gunner 

 approached within range. For this kind of shooting it is required that the head alone be cut 



