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hear our friend, Dr. MacCallum, speak on that subject, and I think it would be 

 wise to embody something of that kind in the resolution — that we approve of the 

 ■codification of the bill, except that we deprecate spring shooting of game birds ; 

 and I think, also, that the point he makes on the opening of the fall shooting is 

 a good one. I think the original bill did call for September loth, but pressure 

 was brought to bear. I expect that this bill will be brought up ag^in, and I 

 am in hopes that before Legislature convenes I maybe able to bring to the 

 notice of the Sportsmen's Association of New York the necessity of getting 

 these changes carried thi'ough. If that meeting is called I mean to try to get 

 our Canadian friends invited to it, and they can there express themselves. I 

 think the better class of people in New York State appreciate the fact that our 

 game birds are disappearing, and are desirous of doing something to protect and 

 preserve them. 



Secretary Stewart : When I spoke of approving of this Act I spoke in a 

 general way, but we Canadian sportsmen are united in regard to the necessity 

 of stopping spring shooting. I do think that this spring shooting should be done 

 away with for the reason that Dr. MacCallum has so ably outlined. 



Mr. Amsden: Have you laws abolishing spring shooting ? 



Dr. MacCallum : Yes. For several years we have not allowed it. 



Secretary Stp.wart : Yet we have to keep our guns unloaded, while 

 .you are shooting all the time. It is hard to make laws where the frontier is so 

 close as at Prescott, Ogdensburg, Niagara and Windsor. I think the necessity of 

 stopping spring shooting in the interest of the future should receive attention. 



Mr. Whitakek : I am not a shooter from Shooters ville. If I were, I should 

 have to hire somebody to support my family, for I could not devote enough time 

 to fish and shoot too. Mr. Stewart must remember that on the great marshes of 

 the river St. Clair, which lie in both waters, and which are the home of the wild 

 fowl, the law of compensation steps in to the advantage of the Canadian sportsman. 

 For, while the Canadian side is a preserve, the people on the American side spring 

 shoot and fall shoot and hit them whenever they can, and it is the universal com- 

 ment that Canada has the best of it, because the fusilade has driven the birds 

 over into the marshes on your side. 



Dr. MacCallum : If the Americans are any sort of shots at all, those birds 

 they shoot at do not get over to our side to breed. I would suggest that this 

 resolution be adopted : " Resolved, that this Convention heartily approves of 

 the New York Codification Bill with the single exception of the allowance of 

 spring shooting. And we in conference assembled wish to ask the New York Com- 

 mission to reconsider this point and to adopt as the only shooting season, the 

 dates in each year between the 15th day of September and December 15th 

 -or 30th. 



The Chairman : Did you offer that as a substitute or as an amendment ? 



Dr. McCallum : That might be offered as an addenda. It saj's here we are 

 asked to consider the same, as it is applicable in its provisions to our own pur- 

 poses, and to indicate what changes may be deemed advisable to suit our several 

 wants, etc. Now, as Chairman of our Ontario Fish and Game Commission, I 

 naturally look to New York State on account of its location, and climate, and 

 •advanced civilization, as the most probable place in which to find a set of game 

 laws applicable to this Province, and which would assist us very much, and it 

 was our suggestion that this should be stated. That was the first step towards 

 this conference. We conferred with Mr. Whittaker who thought it would be a 

 ■good thing. First it was to be a meeting of our Commission and that of New 



