526 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



Some gunners, especially those on Cape Cod and Martha's 

 Vineyard, claim that they have no chance to shoot certain 

 species except in the spring. While this is not strictly accurate, 

 still it has some foundation in fact, particularly on the island 

 of Martha's Vineyard, where Geese appear more in spring, 

 and are less difficult to take than in fall. Since spring shooting 

 has been stopped, however, more Geese have appeared there 

 in fall. This island, also, is a natural breeding ground for 

 wild-fowl, and with spring shooting stopped there it should 

 be possible to raise Geese enough on the island to attract 

 others, and thus to afford the inhabitants good shooting in the 

 fall. Every species of wild-fowl which comes up our coast 

 in spring goes down it in the fall (there are a few, however, 

 which are rarer in spring than in fall). The opportunity is 

 open to all the people along our coasts to shoot these birds in the 

 fall or in December. Those who are not able to avail them- 

 selves of this opportunity because of the <!ares of business, 

 or peculiar local conditions, are in no worse case with spring 

 shooting prohibited than are the great majority of gunners of 

 the interior of the State who now get practically no wild-fowl 

 shooting, and who never will have any unless spring shooting 

 can be prohibited forever, that the birds may have a chance 

 to come back to rest, feed and breed along the rivers, on the 

 lakes and in the swamps of the State. All spring shooting 

 should be prohibited, because no shooting should be allowed 

 in the breeding season. Breeding birds must not be disturbed. 

 When "the law is off" on one or more species many lawbreakers 

 take advantage of this fact, and if they do not find what they 

 seek they shoot something else. I have known reputable men 

 who, failing to get Snipe in spring, shot Swallows on the 

 meadows for practice. Irresponsible, lawbreaking gunners, 

 when out shooting in spring or fall, will shoot at sight any 

 large bird that they see, and many small ones, whether pro- 

 tected by law or not. Spring shooting should be stopped, 

 that all useful birds may be protected in the nesting season. 

 Then a shot fired in spring will be a matter of inquiry for 

 every game warden, and nesting birds will have some 

 peace. 



