GAME AND BIKD l>R( )TEC'ri()X TX S( )LnM-l Al^-KICA: 

 A SHORT COMPARISON WITH SOME OTHER 

 COUNTRIES. 



Bv Alwjn K. Ha.\(;nf.r, F.Z.S. 



With the fast-vanishing herds of nol)le game animals in 

 South Africa, and the indiscriminate catching and shooting of 

 smah birds in many of the districts, not to mention town lands. 

 it is time more thoroiigh and stringent laws for the adequate ])ro- 

 tection of game animals and wild-bird life were passed. 



Eor the pur])oses of this paper it will ])e advisal^le to divide 

 it into several portions, dealing re.spectivelv with the laws — 

 both Government and nuinici])al — and with reservatinns. 

 Avhether Government, municipal, or jirixate. 



Gamk Eaws. 



In South Africa the ( icUue Laws come under the Provincial 

 Governments, and are different for each State. Idiese provide 

 for a closed season, and an open season for the shooting of game 

 under a licence ; the total protection of certain game for certain 

 periods ; and the limitation of certain s]:)ecies as regards the 

 number to be shot on any one ])ermit. 



The (lame Laws of South Africa are fairlv good — some, 

 indeed, as comprehensive as they can w^ell be got. but the vast- 

 ness of the countr}-. together with the ignorance of the majority 

 of the population in matters i)ertaining to natural history, make 

 the task of game, and especially of bird ]irotection. a very diffi- 

 cult one. It is next to inijiossible to have territories like the 

 Pretoria. Ritstenbitrg, and Waterberg " bushveld '' adequately 

 policed, and much illicit shooting and i:)oaching goes on. vear 

 in and year out. Now and again the police make a cajittire and 

 a ])rosecution follows, but from my o\\'n observations in the 

 country named, I shotdd think these convictions do not rei)re- 

 sent lo per cent, of the poachers and illicit hunters. The Trans- 

 vaal Game Protection Association has done its best, btit it is 

 sadly hampered by lack of ftmds. The South African farmer 

 does not seem to realise the importance of the ])rotection of 

 game, and, as for bird protection, this is to him a blank or dead- 

 letter. That he may the better understand and appreciate the 

 possible benefits wdiich can be obtained. I have taken the trouble 

 to collect from various sources some statistics from other cottn- 

 tries, chiefl}' the United States of America. Let him see Avhat 

 these countries have done in comparison with ours ! 



In America the bison, which roamed the prairies not many 

 years ago in countless herds, to-day exists only in a semi-domes- 

 ticated condition, by the grace of God and the strentious efforts 

 of the American and Canadian Governments to establish, and 

 keep, herds of these noble-looking animals in the game reserves. 

 Let this be a wanu"ng to us. and let us do our titmost to ]M-event 

 a like occurrence with our sjilendid heritage, the noble game 



