WILD LIFE PROTECTION WALKER 329 



wild life is to be saved, wc have the option of givii)"; it more com- 

 plete protection or of abandonin*; tiie principle that any one who 

 qualities as to license, citizenship, or residence recpiirements may 

 enjj:a«^e in taking it. In other words, we have before us the innninent 

 prospect of practical extermination of those forms of wild life 

 commonly taken by mankind, unless we adopt stringent enforce- 

 ment of laws and regulatit)ns for their protection or gjive the 

 landowner control of wild life on his lands. In the latter event 

 the man who does not own land will have no place to hunt, trap, 

 or fish unless he obtains the privilege from the landowner. 



A few people realize the reasons for the depletion of wild life 

 and know that in many instances proper^ wild-life administration 

 will restore interesting and valuable forms, but the greater number 

 tlo not know that conditions can be remedied, and they accept the 

 exhaustion of the natural resources as inevitable. 



The idea expressed by one concern selling fiu-bearing atiimal 

 stock that '• fur wearers are breeding faster than fur bearers " can 

 well be applied to all kinds of wild animals used by man. As no 

 adequate substitutes have been found for the animals themselves 

 and many of their proilucts, and as we have not reached the stage 

 of checking the rate of increase in human demand, the only remedj' 

 apparent is to increase the wild life. 



This indicates a very definite field for the student of wild life, for 

 he is the only one qualified to determine the true relative value 

 of the various forms of wild life and to advise legislative bodies, 

 game protective organizations, and the public in general as to their 

 value and the proper steps that should be taken to perpetuate the 

 animals and assure the maximum returns. 



The array of forms that have been exterminated locally or en- 

 tirely, or that have been seriously depleted, is generally better 

 known to scientific men than to any other group, and they are in 

 the best position to show the values of such life. With the various 

 means of the present time for presenting information — through the 

 daily press, magazines, special circulars, motion pictures, the radio, 

 and personal lectures — the scientific man has ample facilities for 

 reaching the public. 



The public is glad to receive autlioritative information from the 

 scientific man provided the material is presented so that it can 

 readily be understood. Legislative bodies and game protective 

 organizations also appreciate his assistance and advice. 



The almost universal interest in animal life and its behavior as 

 shown by the regularity Avith which hunting, fishing, or discussion 

 of animal actions arises in gatherings of men free to discuss varied 

 subjects augurs well for the success of a program to gain the interest 

 and support of the public in the movement for wild-life upbuilding. 



