590 DUCK SHOOTING. 



generally if they were free from disturbance by man. 

 Certain species do so to-day in New England and New 

 York, and require only protection in spring to do so 

 on a much larger scale. 



As it is, they are shot over almost the whole 

 United States, and part of Canada, at a time when they 

 are preparing to nest, when they are not fit for food, 

 and when their destruction has a more immediate bear- 

 ing than at any other time on the supply of fowl for the 

 coming winter. 



Spring shooting ought to be forbidden by public 

 sentiment and law alike, on the ground that it is too 

 destructive to our waterfowl. It ought to be forbidden 

 for the same reason that catching trout out of brooks 

 and rivers with seines is forbidden — because it destroys 

 so many of the fowl that the general supply suffers too 

 great depletiqn. 



One of the chief arguments used by those who ad- 

 vocate spring shooting, and especially by persons living 

 in the Mississippi Valley, is, that if the spring shooting 

 is abolished they will get no duck shooting through the 

 year. These persons claim that in their locality there is 

 no fall duck shooting ; that the fly way of the birds on 

 their southern migration does not touch them. In 

 spring, however, they say that the birds come to them 

 in good numbers, but that the flight is short, although 

 while it lasts the shooting is excellent. Such an argu- 

 ment is purely selfish, and might, with equal force, be 

 advanced in favor of netting trout, night shooting, or 

 any other improvident practice. 



