^'"'- ^'-1 The Protection of Native Birds. QQ 



has established records of the introduction of new game birds — 

 for instance, the Capercailzie, Black Cock, and Scandinavian 

 Ptarmigan, and numerous species of Pheasants and Waterfowl, 

 besides birds imported for aviary purposes. Last year (1905) 

 230,682 Canaries alone were imported. 



Inter-State Commerce in Game. — The development of the cold 

 storage and extension of railways, some years ago, made 

 accessible to the markets of great cities a supply of game which 

 seemed inexhaustible. So rapidly did trade increase that some 

 of the Western States in self-defence were compelled to take 

 steps to restrict consignments of game beyond their own 

 borders. A single consignment of game from Nebraska 

 received at Chicago in 1900 contained no less than 87 barrels 

 of " Prairie Chickens," and it was roughly estimated that the 

 number of these birds killed in Nebraska that year was about 

 5,000,000, of which about one-fifth were for home consumption, 

 the balance to ship beyond the State. Unscrupulous devices 

 were attempted at smuggling game from State to State, such as 

 marking packages containing Quail or game " Butter," 

 " Dressed Poultry," " Household Goods," &c., but these devices 

 were rendered more than futile by the vigilance of the officers. 

 And in consequence of the impulse given to State legislation 

 and public sentiment by the Lacey Act, conditions are at present 

 in marked contrast, say, with those prevailing five years ago. 

 " Prairie Chickens " have almost entirely disappeared from the 

 markets of Chicago. Quail and Grouse are received in greatly 

 diminished numbers, and even Duck, which were formerly 

 shipped from Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas by 

 thousands, are offered for sale in comparatively small numbers. 

 Even more striking changes are reported in methods of 

 shipment. Until recently the majority of game was forwarded 

 to market by express, but the rigid inspection to which express 

 matter is now subjected has resulted in detecting smuggling 

 devices which hitherto were successful. As a result, little game 

 is said to have been received at Chicago and St. Louis during 

 the past year, and, as shippers have been forced to adopt other 

 means of transport which are less satisfactory and more 

 expensive, there is no likelihood of a resumption of trade in 

 violation of laws. 



Information Concerning Game. — In accordance with the 

 provisions of the Lacey Act requiring the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture to " collect and publish useful information as to the 

 propagation, uses, and preservation of birds," the collection of 

 data has been steadily and systematically carried on, as is 

 abundantly proved by the articles and bulletins which the 

 Department has been good enough to forward regularly to our 

 Australasian Union — such useful articles as, for instance, " How 



