41(j USEFUL BIRDS. 



it can be absolutely protected at all seasons. Large for- 

 est reservations have already been accjuired by the United 

 States government and by several States. In January, 

 liK)(i, New York had reserved nearly a million and a half 

 acres, and Pennsylvania had purchased, or contracted for, 

 seven hundred and fifty thousand acres. Connecticut, New 

 Jersey, and other States have adopted reservation policies ; 

 and, as Alfred Akerman, late State Forester of Massachu- 

 setts, well says, this Commonwealth ought to extend its 

 policy of park reservation to include genuine State forests. 

 There are about three million acres in Massachusetts that 

 are of little value except for forestry. Under rational forest 

 management we mio'ht, in time, grow most of the lumber 

 used here, instead of buying it in the north, west, and south. 

 This land is the natural stronghold of the Ruffed Grouse, 

 the red deer, and many other game mammals and birds. A 

 goodly portion of it should be devoted to the preservation 

 of the forests and the game.^ 



Some of the great ponds of the State should be set off 

 as reservations for water-ft)wl ; marshes and sandy shores 

 should be taken as refuges for sea fowl and shore birds ; 

 and islands should be reserved as l)reeding places for sea 

 birds. Undoubtedly the profits from the forest reserves 

 would, in time, paj^ the cost of maintaining the entire system. 

 Prussia owns six million acres of forest land, from which 

 the government derives a net annual revenue of 19,000,000 ; 

 and France receives a net yearly income of fl.Dl per acre 

 from its large government forest. 



While this policy is being inaugurated, other legislation 

 is imperative. Laws must be enacted, whenever it becomes 

 necessary, protecting certain birds at all times for a series 

 of years, and those laws nmst be enforced Avitli a strong hand. 

 Spring shooting destroys the naturally selected breeding stock 

 which has survived the dangers of fall and winter; it should 

 be absolutely prohibited. More and more stringent regnla- 



' A large part of the forested land of the State will probably always remain 

 in the hands of private owners or corporations. Farmers on adjoining farms may 

 band together, and, by postmg notices on their lands, they may protect the game of 

 considerable tracts. Farmers in some towns are now trying this plan. Wealthy 

 owners of large tracts have a still better opportunity to work for the public good. 



