52 



Bird - Lore 



reports a healthy and growing sentiment 

 in favor of this important movement. All 

 citizens of Massachusetts and Rhode 

 Island, irrespective of whether they are 

 members of the Audubon Societies or not, 

 should give all their influence and support 

 to these bills. The time has arrived when 

 prompt and drastic action must be taken 

 to preserve the water-fowl and shore birds, 

 else they are doomed to a sure and rapid 

 extermination. The true sportsmen of 

 these two states should work for the pas- 

 sage of the bills in the most aggressive 

 manner in order to counteract the efforts 

 of those shooters who still selfishly desire 

 to kill water-fowl and shore birds when 

 they are on the northward migration to 

 the breeding grounds. One of the basic 

 principles of the National Association is 

 "No Spring Shooting." Let this be the 

 rallying cry and success for the bills is 

 assured. 



New York. — Among the many admir- 

 able recommendations in Governor 

 Hughes' message to the 1908 Legislature, 

 none was of greater importance than that 

 referring to game laws. "I recommend 

 that the Forest, Fish and Game law be care- 

 fully revised," and "1 recommend the 

 enactment of a License Law. " The present 

 game law of the state is a mass of contra- 

 dictory sections and this Association has 

 strongly advised their revision. This, how- 

 ever, cannot be done in a satisfactory 

 manner unless the advice and scientific 

 knowledge of an ornithologist and mamma- 

 logist is secured. The executive officers 

 of the National Association will watch with 

 interest the results of the important sug- 

 gestions of Governor Hughes and will be 

 prepared to use all of its influence to fur- 

 ther the passage of a revised game law 

 and also a license law. The New York 

 Audubon Society will likewise take active 

 measures to procure such desirable im- 

 provements for bird and animal protec- 

 tion. 



New Jersey. — A number of important 

 conferences have already been held in 

 this state for the purpose of formulating 



plans for the passage of an anti-spring 

 shooting law. Readers of Bird-Lore 

 will recall the unsuccessful attempt made 

 in the Legislature of 1907. This year the 

 organization backing the proposed bill is 

 much stronger than it was last year, 

 further, there is a growing public senti- 

 ment in favor of the abolition of spring 

 shooting. The Afl&liated Sportsmen's 

 Clubs, the Audubon Society and the La 

 Rue Holmes Nature Lovers League will 

 all do yeoman's service to secure up- 

 to-date game laws in New Jersey to re- 

 place the farcical statutes now in force. 



Maryland. — There is a probability 

 that some necessary changes in the game 

 laws of this state will be attempted at the 

 present session of the Legislature, but the 

 plans are not yet advanced far enough to 

 report on. 



Oklaho.ma. — In this new state the 

 model law has been introduced in the 

 Legislature, which is now holding its first 

 session. It is House Bill No. 93. It is being 

 pushed in the most energetic manner and 

 will undoubtedly become a law, as there 

 is a strong sentiment in the state for the 

 protection of birds. Bills to establish a 

 state warden-system, hunting licenses, 

 close seasons, etc., have also been intro- 

 duced and are receiving deserved support. 

 The citizens of the youngest of the sister- 

 hood of states evidently propose to start 

 out right in the matter of bird and game 

 protection. 



Across the Border 



The Prince Edward Island Fish and 

 Game Protection Association is doing 

 excellent work and is rapidly growing in 

 size. Their last quarterly report indicates 

 that the Ruffed Grouse which was nearly 

 extinct" is becoming quite numerous as a 

 result of special protection for two years. 

 "Posters were put up through the province 

 cautioning people against killing Part- 

 ridge and offering a reward for informa- 

 tion leading to the conviction of any person 

 violating the Game Act." The following 

 is of special interest. "The work the 



