722 



Peunsylvania State GraDgo, P. of H., the largest, and, 

 by far, the most inllnential organized body of farmers 

 in the Commonwealth, resolutions were passed urging 

 the State Legislature to allow a bounty of a few cents 

 eaeh on every English Sparrow slain. 



There is no doubt whatever that if English Spar- 

 rows were all destroyed it would be a great blessing, 

 but this is not feasible through a bounty act. A num- 

 ber of States and cuiunties have tried this method of 

 extei-minating this feathered pest and it has always 

 been a failure. 



WANT BOUNTIES FOR NUMEROUS ANIMALS. 



The data collected by our State Board of Game 

 Commissioners shows plainly that there is a growing 

 sentiment in favor of paying bounties for the King- 

 fisher, the Fish Hawk, Herons, Bitterns, "Fish Ducks" 

 and even Water Snakes, all of which devour different 

 species of the finny tribes. Tlie writer has, since the 

 latter part of 18S5, devoted a great deal of study to 

 the effect of bounty laws and has, during the last 

 eleven years, visited almost every county in the Com- 

 monwealth, attending institutes, grange meetings, etc., 

 where abundant oi)i>ortunity was had to acquaint 

 himself with the views of those who engage in agricul- 

 tural pursuits. This experience, together with infor- 

 mation received through circulars, letters, etc.. un- 

 fortunately compels the writer to say that at present 

 (April, 1897) if the representatives from the counties* 

 other than Allegheny and Philadelphia (where the 

 average voter seems to pay little or no attention to 

 how his Senator or member of the House votes) were 



•PosFibly in Crawford and Lawrence counties a majority of 

 the citizens are opposed to paying bounties on account of rea- 

 sons elsewhere mentioned. 



