WILD DUCKS FOR SPORT AND PROFIT 15 



acted everywhere in America. It is less than a score of 

 years since wild ducks first were artificially reared in 

 England, and the older country has, therefore, only a 

 short lead, so far as wild ducks are concerned. American 

 enterprise can be relied upon to overtake her. The ponds 

 and marshes which are suitable for wild fowl are far 

 more numerous and extensive and far less expensive in 

 America than similar places are in England ; the proper- 

 ties used for duck rearing in America can be larger than 

 they are abroad, and a greater number of wild ducks can 

 be reared in a wild state by simply protecting the nesting 

 birds from their natural enemies and trespassers and 

 from stray dogs and cats, which are said to do more 

 damage than foxes and hawks. 



Much worthless land, partly covered by water, can be 

 made profitable by the restoration of the wild fowl, and 

 the countless lakes and ponds throughout the United 

 States and British Provinces, which are now desolate, 

 can be adorned with this charming form of wild life. 

 Some of the most intelligent State game officers have 

 given this subject their attention, and many individuals 

 and clubs already have begun the good work of restora- 

 tion and propagation. Many game farmers in England 

 produce thousands of wild ducks and eggs every season, 

 and a number of game farms have been started in 

 America, some of which can fill large orders for both 

 birds and eggs. Some of the duck breeders wrote last 

 season (1909) that they sold all the ducks they produced 

 at satisfactory prices. The mallards and some of the more 

 common species of ducks sold at $3 and $4 per pair, and 

 the wood-duck sold for $15 per pair, and in some places 

 these birds brought even higher prices. The eggs of the 



