XX INTRODUCTORY 



food or financial profit is receiving a great impetus these 

 days, and is becoming an important industry. Wild ducks 

 and pheasants are raised in large numbers for the market. 

 Farmers and youths are beginning to propagate "game" as 

 a side line for profit, and in some cases add neat sums to 

 their incomes. To supply the wide demand for breeding- 

 stock people here and there are beginning to experiment 

 with various species, often with considerable success. Such 

 efforts will also help to extend the range and increase the 

 numbers of these birds. Farmers can make it a source 

 of revenue to protect or propagate game on their land 

 either for purposes of sale or to lease out the hunting 

 privilege. 



The propagation by human industry of wild birds for 

 food is precisely as legitimate as the farming of domestic 

 poultry. All the domesticated species came originally from 

 wild stock, though modified by hybridization and selection. 

 They have thus been saved from extermination, and have 

 become of immense value to mankind. The question be- 

 comes largely one of conservation, of keeping up the supply. 

 It is now impracticable to allow the sale of wild game, be- 

 cause modern commercial methods would speedily exter- 

 minate it. But if it can be multiplied by industry, there is 

 every reason to encourage such undertakings, and permit 

 the sale of birds so raised under proper restrictions. 



Already there is a considerable demand for men skilled 

 in the propagation of game-birds and wildfowl, for employ- 

 ment on game preserves or private estates. Besides raising 

 game, their work is to protect and feed birds and game, and 

 to exterminate the vermin that preys upon them. 



On some estates the owner allows no shooting, but breeds 

 game for the pleasure of seeing it about, and also attracts 

 and protects bird Ufe in general. For such positions men of 



