^6 Ditcher, Protection of Gulls and Terns. \jitxv 



support they can give their families. Moreover, they generally sell 

 through middlemen who reap the real profits of the trade. It 

 would be both cruel and useless to prosecute this class of hunters. 

 The middlemen and the rich millinery firms are the ones who should 

 be made to pay the penalty for their disregard of the laws." 



From other members of the Committee brief reports, generally 

 of an encouraging nature, have been received, and in closing I 

 would refer to the large amount of correspondence that has been 

 necessitated in the course of the year's work, especially by Dr. T. S. 

 Palmer and your chairman. The answering of innumerable in- 

 quiries concerning legislation and methods for bird protection ; 

 the calls for cooperation in assisting in the passage of bird laws, 

 and the warnings sent out to all who advertise game, birds, or 

 millinery material, have all assisted in spreading the interest in 

 bird and game protection ; and I think we may feel well satisfied 

 with the results of the most momentous year's work that we have 

 yet accomplished. 



WiTMER Stone, 



Chairman. 



RESULTS OF SPECIAL PROTECTION TO GULLS AND 



TERNS OBTAINED THROUGH THE 



THAYER FUND. 



In beginning this report on the special protection work of the 

 past year, great credit should be given to our fellow-member, 

 Abbott H. Thayer, for the ver}' important part contributed by him 

 to the result. The thought of this special protection was his alone, 

 and his unrtagging and vmaided energy and tact, secured the sin- 

 ews of war, a fund of over $1400, with which wardens were paid; 

 without this fund, nothing could have been accomplished. Where 

 he should have received encouragement, i.e., among the ornitholo- 

 gists, he met with discouragement, for he was told that it was im- 

 possible to raise any funds for the work. By his personal courage 

 and faith, he accomplished what others said could not be done. 



