Reports of Field Agents 343 



The minor losses to protection have been more than counterbalanced by 

 substantial gains, and even these minor losses could readily have been pre- 

 vented had the means been available to keep a watchful man on the ground in 

 every state capitol. Public sentiment in New England has now reached the 

 point where everything in reason will be granted us whenever we are in a 

 position financially to attend closely to the detailed work required to get it. 

 Even the majority of the game destroyers themselves realize the strength of 

 the sentiment of protection, and do not presume to ask for so much as they 

 demanded a few years ago. Representatives and Senators, even when asking 

 in debate for an extension of the open season, recognize the popular feehng and 

 pose as in favor of protection. They merely argue that it is not needed in the 

 particular case in hand. One of the signs of the times is a "Gunners' Associa- 

 tion," in Massachusetts, organized in 1910, to "save gunning' lest it be "nagged 

 to death." 



It is impossible in the space allotted to this report even to name and explain 

 all the various bills that were advocated or opposed by this Association in 

 New England during the past season, but a few of the most important may be 

 mentioned, and their fate may be related. 



Vermont. — The sentiment for bird and game-protection is so strong in 

 Vermont that no serious attempt was made to shorten shooting seasons or 

 to take away protection now afforded any bird or animal, except deer and 

 fur-bearing animals. Your agent advocated a bill to forbid the killing of does, 

 which was finally enacted into law. Also, a bill introduced by Representative 

 Allen of Westford, which established the ofl&ce of State Ornithologist. After some 

 delay, this bill was slightly modified, to meet the views of the State Secretary 

 of Agriculture, Hon. Alonzo Martin, and was passed without opposition. Mr. 

 Martin who, under the amended bill, was given the appointment of the Orni- 

 thologist, appointed Mr. Carlton D. Howe, Secretary of the Vermont Audubon 

 Society, and a former Director of the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies. Mr. Howe, who had previously written a bulletin on the economic 

 relations of birds for the Department, is now at work on a manual of bird 

 study for the school teachers of Vermont, to be published by the Department 

 of Agriculture. Also, he is delivering lectures throughout the state to schools 

 and teachers. His long experience as a teacher and school superintendent has 

 given him a peculiar fitness for the work. 



In 1908, our Association assisted in securing the passage of a Hunters' 

 License Bill, in Vermont, which has since provided a fund for the enforcement 

 of the game and bird laws, and in 1910-11 the Association supported the pres- 

 ent Commissioner of Fish and Game, Mr. J. W. Titcomb, in securing the 

 passage of a bill for the appointment of a State Warden and County Wardens, 

 to be remunerated from the game fund provided by the fees for hunters' licenses. 

 The bill met with considerable opposition, but was finally passed, with the 

 provision for the State Warden stricken out. Protection of the Wood Duck 



