144 Notes and News. [f^. 



States very gratifying results have been obtained in law enforcement partic- 

 ularly in New Jersey and in Maryland at the head of Chesapeake Bay; 

 in the Northwest district special attention has been given to educational 

 work and to stopping the hunting on the Mississippi River. Preparations 

 are now being made to secure certain amendments in the laws of the States 

 whose legislatures convene in January so as to make the local laws conform 

 with the regulations and thus avoid as far as possible any conflict in the 

 close seasons under the State and Federal statutes. 



The plumage provision in the Tariff Bill which owes its origin to a sug- 

 gestion by Mr. Henry Oldys was actively championed by the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies under the guidance of Secretary T. 

 Gilbert Pearson and by the New York Zoological Society under the direc- 

 tion of Dr. W. T. Homaday. The provision in the form proposed by Doc- 

 tor Homaday passed the House without change on May 8, but in the 

 Senate was amended by the Finance Committee so that its effectiveness 

 was largely destroyed. By action of the Democratic caucus on September 

 2, the proposed amendment was abandoned and the House provision was 

 restored. The bill passed a few days later and was approved on October 3. 

 The Treasury Department immediately enforced the plumage provision 

 in the case of plumage worn by travelers as well as in the case of feathers 

 imported for sale, and notwithstanding vigorous protests, all persons 

 arriving at ports of entry with prohibited plumage either in trunks or on 

 their hats, were compelled to relinquish such trimmings or to return them 

 to the port of shipment. 



A Senate Resolution authorizing the President to negotiate treaties with 

 foreign Governments for the protection of birds was passed on July 7, 1913. 

 It is to be hoped that a convention may be arranged with Canada at an 

 early date for the better protection of migratory birds. 



From an ornithological standpoint the most important State laws were 

 those in Pennsylvania prohibiting the sale of aigrettes and certain other 

 imported plumage after July 1, 1914; the comprehensive Florida statute 

 providing for a game commission, a license system, and the repeal of all 

 local laws; the special law in Florida removing Robins from the game list; 

 and the establishment of 15 game preserves in the United States and four 

 in Manitoba. Provision for enforcing the game laws was assured through 

 the adoption of the resident hunting license system in Delaware, Florida, 

 Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and South 

 Dakota, the warden work was reorganzied and single commissioners were 

 replaced by a Board. In Ohio an Agricultural Commission replaced 

 several former State departments and the game warden service was placed 

 under its charge. In Connecticut the Fish and Game Commission was 

 increased from three to eight members, and in New Hampshire the Board 

 of Fish and Game Commissioners was replaced by a single game commis- 

 sioner. 



Colorado was the only State which extended the open season for water- 

 fowl in the spring but this action was largely offset by the Federal Regula- 



