514 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
snares and traps in vast numbers, and as early as 1855 
and ’56 a writer said: ‘The havoc and slaughter, not 
only by the mercenary and cruel, but by the thoughtless 
and improvident, have consequently been very great, 
both of birds and animals, thousands of buffaloes, deer 
and hares, hundreds of wolves, panthers and bears, as 
well as myriads of partridges and hecatombs of grouse, 
have been slain and trapped. The markets of all our 
principal cities have been most bountifully supplied with 
every description of game—in fact, filled to repletion 
with partridges and grouse; not, however, as many sup- 
pose, with birds alone coming from the far, far West, 
but by incredible numbers of half-starved victims snared 
in our own and the neighboring States or mercilessly 
shot down, whole coveys at a ‘blow,’ as they sit huddled 
together on the treacherous snow, stupefied and be- 
numbed with the chilling blasts of the north.” 
Some of the sportsmen of that day were Englishmen, 
and of these Wm. Henry Herbert—Frank Forester— 
was one of the most famous. Herbert wrote in charm- 
ing style, and professed high ideals of sport. His writ- 
ings were read by all who were fond of shooting and 
fishing, and exercised a good influence. Birds at that 
time were so extremely abundant—from the point of 
view of to-day—that no one realized the importance of 
moderation in killing, and the bags made were very 
large. Herbert inculcated good views of sport, and his 
teachings were far in advance of the practice of his day. 
Nevertheless, it was then a point of pride, as indeed it 
still was at a very recent day, to do a little better—that 
