Report of the Secretary 497 



was made a game-refuge. In Maine the state law on migratory game-birds 

 was revised to make it uniform with the Federal law. The open season on the 

 Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock was shortened by two weeks, and for the first 

 time in that state the Spruce Grouse was given protection. Hunting with 

 motor-boats was prohibited in certain waters. Massachusetts enacted a law 

 which prohibits unnaturalized aliens carrying guns, and an attempt to 

 secure legislative action protesting against the migratory-bird law was easily 

 defeated. As Mr. Packard has recently written: "It is gratifying to note that 

 the sentiment in favor of bird-protection has grown to be so strong a force in 

 New England that comparatively few bad bills were listed the past year." 

 In New Hampshire an attempt was made to take protection off the Great Blue 

 Heron and the Kingfisher, but the Audubon forces defeated the measure. In 

 Ohio protection was taken from Hawks and Owls, no distinction being made 

 between the beneficial species and others that at times may be injurious to 

 game-birds or to poultry. The legislature, however, was induced to declare a 

 two-years' closed season on the killing of Bob-whites, and a closed season was 

 also extended to the Mourning Dove. 



In Rhode Island an unsuccessful attempt was made to force out the present 

 game-commissioners, whose positions are well known to have been secured by 

 Audubon Society influence, and put in others whose views were known to be 

 less restrictive on the matter of killing. An effort to discredit the Federal 

 migratory-bird law was defeated. The Hawk and Owl bounty law was up 

 again in Tennessee, and was opposed by our workers. Efforts to get a five-year- 

 closed season on the Quail were unsuccessful. Texas took a backward step by 

 extending the season for the killing of Mourning Doves to a period of six months. 



APPLIED ORNITHOLOGY 



The Department of Applied Ornithology, established on August i, 1914, 

 with Herbert K. Job in charge, has been a decided success. His efforts have 

 met with the warmest reception and with adequate financial support. He has 

 visited the estates of many gentlemen engaged in the propagation of game- 

 birds, and has noted the methods employed. He has answered many requests 

 for information, and has gone by invitation to various towns, city parks, and 

 private estates to map out general plans, either for the propagation of game- 

 birds, or the increase of other birds by means of extensive bird-box and feed- 

 ing-station systems. He has prepared for the Association two large illustrated 

 Bulletins on the propagation of game-birds, for which there has been an immedi- 

 ate and continuing demand from all parts of the country. The months of May 

 and June were occupied by a trip to the Federal and Audubon reservations of 

 Florida and Louisiana, where he secured many thousands of feet of moving- 

 picture film, showing the teeming wild life of those regions. During the year 

 he has also found time to write a useful book, 'The Propagation of Wild Birds,' 



