384 Bird -Lore 



of knowing that through the splendid support now being given the Association, 

 we are each year able to increase the scope of our work and give more extensive 

 cultivation to those fields already entered. On behalf of the Board of Direc- 

 tors, I herewith present to the members a summary of the activities of the 

 Association during the past year. 



OFFICE WORK 



To handle the volume of the business in the office, the Secretary now 

 requires the constant aid of eight office assistants. During the year it has been 

 necessary again to secure additional office space. Let us take this opportunity 

 to invite our members, and others who are interested in wild-fife protection, 

 to visit the offices at 1974 Broadway, where a hearty welcome awaits them. 



FIELD FORCE 



The nimiber of field agents and lecturers has been nearly doubled during 

 the past year, eight being employed for a part or the whole of their time. 

 These were: — E. H. Forbush, in New England; Capt. M. B. Davis, in Texas; 

 Wm. L. Finley, in the Northern Pacific States; Miss Katherine H. Stuart, in 

 Virginia; James Henry Rice, Jr., in South Carolina; Dr. Eugene W. Swope, 

 in Ohio; and E. V. Visart, in Arkansas. Too much credit cannot be given to 

 these unselfish workers who have so splendidly represented the Association 

 in their various fields and who are so largely responsible for the good results 

 achieved in bird-protection in their respective states. Without exception, their 

 work has been largely a labor of love, for in no instance has their financial 

 remuneration been commensurate with the amount of energy given to their 

 duties. 



It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of our noble 

 Texas representative, Capt. M. B. Davis, who died at his home in Waco, 

 Texas, June 18, 191 2. Captain Davis has been one of our most worthy repre- 

 sentatives since his connection with the Association, which began in 1904. We 

 fear it will be long before his place can be filled with a worker so energetic, 

 so persistent, and withal, so effective. 



WARDEN FORCE 



Perhaps in no way was the wisdom of President William Dutcher, the 

 founder of the Association, more strikingly displayed than by his earnest 

 insistence during the early days of our organization that we adopt a policy of 

 establishing a strong warden force to guard from feather-hunters and eggers 

 those colonies of water-birds threatened with extinction. This is, today, a most 

 important feature of our work. Forty-one of these guards have been employed 



