THE CONSERVATION OF BIRDS. 283 



always defend themselves on this ground, though it may not 

 be the real cause of their crime. In spite of the fact that it 

 cannot save them from punishment if they are prosecuted, it 

 undoubtedly keeps down the number of complaints that 

 reach official ears. Officials themselves are likely to give 

 most of their attention to other parts of the State. 



As an example of non-uniformity take Iowa and her near- 

 by neighbors north and south, Minnesota and Missouri. In 

 1901 the close season for ducks in Iowa was April 15 to 

 September 1 ; in Minnesota it was January 1 to September 

 1 ; and in Missouri April 1 to October 1. Iowa gunners 

 were allowed to kill ducks six weeks longer than Missouri 

 gunners, and thirteen weeks longer than Minnesota gun- 

 ners. If ducks were permanent residents such discrepancy 

 would not matter, but the majority of them are migrants, 

 exposed to fire from each of the three States in succession. 

 The laws relating to other game-birds in these three States 

 were no nearer alike. Neither were game laws of other con- 

 tiguous States better in this respect. In the statement of 

 close seasons in the different States and territories issued by 

 the Department of Agriculture 1 there were not three succes- 

 sive States with uniform laws relating to a single game-bird, 

 with the exception of Utah, Idaho, and Washington, which 

 agreed in protecting grouse and prairie chickens. This con- 

 dition of things was manifestly wrong, and so long as it con- 

 tinued the laws in question were certain to be violated. 

 Popular sentiment did not uphold them. It is not practicable 

 to police every bit of woods, every stretch of water, every 

 grain-field. If game laws do not meet the approval and have 

 the hearty support of the masses, they are void. 



The palpable impropriety of prohibiting on one side or a 

 certain line what is openly and legally practiced on the other 

 can lead to but one outcome defiance. That the State is the 

 sovereign power, so far as its internal affairs are concerned, 



1 Bulletin No. 14, Division of Biological Survey. 



