Back Up the Game Laws 



As the !nil)lic ij^rows to understaiul ihc !)usiness need of ])rotectin^ our wild 

 l)ir(ls and animals and preserving^ our forests, endorsement of the hunting-license 

 system spreads. Here and there remains some opposition, but it is v,,, inconse- 

 quential as to be scarcely worth recording;. The people know by now that unless 

 birds are protected they will be shot out, and the logic of having the men who 

 do the shooting pay a tax for the privilege is unanswerable. 



Though violently opposed at first, the common fairness of tlie license system 

 has won support everywhere, if for no other reason tli.an because it is one of 

 the most satisfactory methods yet ilevised of securing funds for game protection. 

 This is not a question for sportsmen only — this saving of birds — but one of 

 pertinence to all the people over all .\merica. The value of l)irds to the agricul- 

 tural interest has been so often exploited it seems needless to go over it again. 

 So much is being printed on the subject in the magazines and the daily paj)ers 

 that it must be indeed an unintelligent person who today does not realize that 

 bird protection is a question for all people, whatever their l)usiness interests; 

 not for sentimental, but for purely commercial reasons. The most practical 

 manner of securing help in this effort is the stimulation among the people of a 

 sentiment supporting the game laws and supporting the wardens in the exercise 

 of their duty. The game warden is doing a notable public service, and should be 

 encouraged in the perforniance of that duty and upheld and honored in its 

 discharge. 



This season, in order to direct its work with added intelligence, the I5iological 

 Survey is making an effort to secure statistics as to the number of game birds 

 and animals killed. It is impossible to do this except l)y the co-operation of 

 sportsmen. Hierefore, I urge all who go afield to observe the game laws, 

 support the wardens, keep their killing within sportsmanly limits, and to send the 

 figures as to the game killed to the game wardens of their respective states. 

 This is for the purpose of gathering statistics as to numbers, so as to have 

 definite figures for game preservation activity. Such a basis can be had only 

 through a careful record of the hunters" kill each season. At present the figures 

 are wholly guesswork. Every man who takes out a license should be required 

 to return at the end of the season figures of his shooting on penalty of forfeiting 

 his right to a license the following year. Such a system is being very success- 

 fully operated in Manitoba. — Collier's JVccklv. 



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