i6o 



of supporting laws, nor was the warden system adopted dur- 

 ing the first movement. 



The second cycle of bird protection practically commenced 

 in January, 1896, when the system of State Audubon Societies 

 was started by the organization of a society in Massachusetts ; 

 this was followed by one in Pennsylvania, and thereafter state 

 organizations followed in rapid succession, until now there 

 are societies in thirt\ -five states, one territory and the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia. Many of these societies are large and flour- 

 ishing ones, some of them being incorporated. The Society in 

 North Carolina is unique in that it acts in that state as a Game 

 Commission with power of appointing bird and game-wardens 

 who can arrest violators of the game laws. 



Uniform bird legislation was found to be absolutely neces- 

 sary and has rapidly been secured, so that at this date the 

 model law^ is in force in tvv-enty-eight states, one territory and 

 the Northwest Territories in the British Provinces. In addi- 

 tion, the Audubon Societies, individually and through the 

 National Association, have exerted a vast and valuable in- 

 fluence in game-bird protection, having found it impossible 

 not to become interested and in\olved in this important branch 

 of economics. All of the societies stand emphatically for short 

 open seasons,, no spring shooting, non-export, no sale of 

 game, and every known method of preserving the rapidly 

 diminishing game-birds of the country. 



Early in 1900 Fashion had again attacked the Gulls and 

 Terns, and dealers said that the demand for these skins far 

 exceeded the supply. An appeal to bird lovers was made by 

 Mr. Abbott H. Thayer, and through his efforts a generous 

 fund was raised which was used for special protection to sea- 

 birds during the breeding season, wardens being employed 

 for this purpose. ?Jr. Thc'iver has diligently and patiently 

 worked to continue the fund from year to year, with annually 

 increasing results, so that during the past year thirty-four 

 wardens have been employed, as follows: ^NFaine, 10: ]\Iassa- 

 chusetts, I : New York, 2; New Jersey, 2; A'irginia, 8: North 

 Carolina, 4; Florida, 4; Texas, i ; ^Michigan, i ; Oregon, i, and 

 a contract has just been made with a warden in Louisiana. 



In November, igoo. an important meeting took place in 

 Cambridge, having as its object the discussion of the Federa- 

 tion of the State Audubon Societies in order to strengthen 



