108 TO FORM A DUCK CLUB, OR SYNDICATE 



having too many guns. The annual dues should be from 

 $25 to $50 per annum. » 



The syndicate to which I have referred was started 

 with one subscription for twenty shares, and several of 

 the members own from two to five shares each. The 

 others pay $30 each for one share and $30 annual dues. 



If the shoot contains eight or ten thousand acres and 

 is well watered a hundred members is not too many, since 

 it is evident that some of the members will not shoot 

 much or often, and there should be some "preferred 

 stockholders," as a friend of mine humorously terms 

 those who pay their dues and do not shoot at all. 



It is not a difficult matter to secure preferred stock- 

 holders, since men easily can be found who are willing to 

 aid in the restoration and protection of our indigenous 

 game birds provided they can have some of them for their 

 tables. 



It is advisable to undertake the rearing of some upland 

 game in addition to the wild ducks. Many sportsmen 

 prefer to shoot over dogs. 



Many species of upland birds will respond nicely to the 

 control of vermin, and since the ducks nest early the 

 gamekeeper can rear a lot of upland birds in captivity 

 after his ducks are well started, and he can give some 

 attention to the quail and other birds nesting wild on the 

 preserve. He will see that they are not destroyed by 

 their enemies or by farm machinery. 



The first step in forming a game syndicate of any kind 

 is to secure the signatures of the required number of 

 members to a subscription contract. The simple form 

 of contract used by the New York Game Breeders' Asso- 

 ciation is as follows^ 



