SCIENCE VS. TRADITION IN GAME PROTECTION 411 



These laws have permitted the destruction of entire species by faiHni; 

 to give them breeding grounds. The overwhehning need of game in 

 America is an adequate system of game refuges — not great game pre- 

 serves to serve as museums of Hving specimens, though these are ad- 

 mirable in their proper place, but numerous small refuges intended for 

 game production, the surplus to be hunted on adjacent game ranges. 

 The number of these refuges must be in inverse ratio to the scarcity 

 of game and in direct ratio to the abundance of hunters. To supple- 

 ment this system of fixed, permanent, inviolate refuges, there should 

 also be provision for flexible local closed seasons where breeding-stock 

 is reduced below the possibility of recuperation through refugee. 



For nearly two decades game conservators have made strenuous 

 attempts for a Federal law authorizing the President to establish game 

 refuges on the National Forests. They have failed so far. Meanwhile 

 legislation like that just adopted in New Mexico will give an oppor- 

 tunity for close and effective co-operation between State and Federal 

 officials in game management. It has the added advantage of throwing 

 the responsibility for wise game management on the State, where there 

 is a vast amount of public sentiment in favor of game protection. There 

 is no good reason why advantage can not be taken of this popular 

 sentiment in other Western States to get away from ineffective tradi- 

 tion to real management. One State — Montana — under the leadership 

 of Governor Dixon, is already working for legislation similar to tlie 

 New Mexico law. and it is not an impossible dream to hope that through 

 wise legislation the big game of the West may be in reach of safety 

 within the next decade. 



