ZOOLOGIC.\L SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



773 



and introduced tlie bill now known as tlie Ba3'ne- 

 Blfiuvelt Bill. This bill passed throug;h a lonji 

 and tedious struggle, being attacked with sjjccial 

 bitterness by the game dealers. The proposed 

 prohibition of the sale of game made it neces- 

 sary to provide for breeding in order to supply 

 game, artificially reared, to take the jjlace of the 

 wild game. This required long and frequent 

 conferences with various individuals and organ- 

 izations who proposed to undertake in the state 

 the breeding of game. This co-operation was 

 cordially welcomed and the provisions recom- 

 mended by them were incorporated in the bill. 



At the last minute, during the closing days 

 of the session, the game dealers succeeded in 

 having the bill amended to include jirovisions 

 authorizing the importation of certain species 

 of foreign deer and game birds. These provi- 

 sions are objectionable in that they may afford 

 a loophole througli which the game laws of 

 this and other states may be violated, as ])ast 

 experience with similar legislation has repeated- 

 ly shown. It also reduces the value of the 

 privilege of rearing game. It, therefore, be- 

 comes the duty of those who are interested in 

 breeding game for the market, to see that the 

 law is strictly enforced. 



It will probably be necessary in the near 

 future to amend the bill prohibiting the impor- 

 tation of many of the foreign game birds named 

 in the bill, as otherwise the competition of im- 

 ported game will make it impossible to breed 

 game here at a profit. 



The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 

 1, and in the Assembly the vote was unanimous. 

 The New York Zoological Society entered ac- 

 tively into the campaign. It subscribed $500 

 to the expenses, and sent the Chairman of the 

 Executive Committee to Albany to appear on 

 behalf of the Society, along ^vith the represen- 

 tatives of other organizations, in support of the 

 biU. 



The new law provides for the repeal of all 

 jjrovisions of the existing law authorizing the 

 sale of native wild game, mammals and birds, 

 taken either within or without the state of New 

 York. The only exception relates to hares and 

 rabbits, which have grown so numerous as to 

 constitute a pest in certain sections. It amply 

 provides for licensed game preserves, and the 

 breeding therein of certain species of mammals 

 and birds for the market. The species which 

 may be bred in fenced preserves are White- 

 tailed Deer, Elk. all species of Pheasants. Mal- 

 lard and Black Ducks. A state license of $'2a 

 is required for any game preserve the owner of 

 which desires to sell his game. The animals in 



such game preserves may be killed, otherwise 

 than by shooting, between October 10 and Janu- 

 ary 10. in the presence of a game ))rotector or 

 justice of the peace, who shall affix to each bird 

 or animal a tag, which nuist remain in place 

 until such bird or animal is consumed. Game 

 reared and killed in this manner may be sold 

 between October 1 and March 1. 



The bill allows the importation of the car- 

 casses of European Red Deer, Roebuck and Fal- 

 low Deer, and unplucked Pheasants of all spe- 

 cies, Scotch Grouse, European Black Game, 

 Black Plover, Red-Legged Partridge, and Egyp- 

 tian Quail. These animals and birds must be 

 tagged in the same manner as })reserve-bred 

 game, immediately U])on their arrivals at the 

 port of New York. 



The provision for the sale of European Deer 

 was inserted bj' the sponsors of the bill, but the 

 game dealers were responsible for the inclusion 

 of the birds above mentioned. 



This bill, while not at all revolutionary in its 

 character, nevertheless introduces, as above 

 stated, an entirely new principle; and it is 

 hoped that with the stoppage of the public sale 

 of wild game, the existing stock may be allowed 

 sufficient rest to recuperate in numbers, and ulti- 

 mately restock many of the portions of the state 

 now entirely without game. There are vast 

 areas of the state where, for instance our native 

 grouse and quail may spread and become as 

 numerous as in early days, and it is probable 

 that this bill will actually lead to the condition 

 of affairs where the number of grouse killed by 

 sportsmen will be greatly increased annually. 

 Experience has shown us that it is not the 

 sportsman, but the dealer in wild game, that 

 destroys wild life. 



If this measure proves to be insuflicient to 

 protect some of the species now threatened with 

 extermination, the next step in the protection of 

 game ^vill be the total prohibition of killing of 

 such birds or animals for at least a long period 

 of time. Extreme measures are necessary un- 

 less we wish our woods, meadows and the fields 

 to be entirely devoid of wild life. 



Madison Graxt. 



ENDOWMENT FUND. 



Balance January 1, 1911 $Jj6,76i.80 



New subscriptions during 1911: 



,T. J. Hill „ .$10,000.00 



I.ispenard Steward 10,000.00 



Mortimer I,. Schiff 5,(X)0.00 



Mrs. Morris K. Jesup 500.00 



Mrs. A. D. Jiiilliard 500.00 



26,000.00 



Total July 1. 1911 $282,762.80 



