WILD-LIFE REFUGES 41 



public parks where ordinances prohibiting the use of firearms 

 exist and are enforced may also be included in this class. 



In the second class are included all State Forest Reservations; 

 and refuges established by the Game and Fish Commissioner in 

 accordance with a state law where only a part of the land owners 

 therein have petitioned for such action. Refuges of this latter 

 kind can not be less than 640 acres in extent. Within refuges of 

 this class unprotected mammals and outlawed birds can be hunted 

 and killed at any time, which permits of more or less shooting 

 and disturbance, so that, even if protected species are not occa- 

 sionally surreptitiously killed, freedom from annoyance is not 

 complete. However, such protection is far better than none and 

 thorough policing will greatly reduce the possible evils. 



Numerous private refuges, consisting of the estates of one or 

 more individuals have been voluntarily formed. These are pro- 

 tected by the usual laws relating to trespass after proper warning 

 signs have been posted. 



On January 1, 1916, there was established a farm for breeding 

 game birds on Big Island, Lake Minnetonka, by the Minneapolis 

 Branch of the Minnesota Game Protective League. The Twin 

 City Rapid Transit Company generously donated the use of the 

 island and the services of a keeper. The enterprise was conducted 

 by the League and financed by contributions from its members, 

 until, on May 1, 1917, it was taken over entirely by the State 

 Game and Fish Commission. This game farm is now, therefore, 

 a state activity as it rightly should be and after the good begin- 

 ning made, and the hard work done by the League it is hoped that 

 the state will adequately support and expand it, as in its success 

 lies very largely the possibility of restocking the depleted coverts 

 and waters of the state with valuable game birds. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Carlos Avery, Commissioner of 

 Game and Fish, I am able to present the following list of Minne- 

 sota Game Refuges with the approximate area of each, complete 

 to January 1, 1919. This list shows that there are in the state 

 at present -thirty-three Refuges and one Federal Bird Reserve. 

 The latter is a tiny rocky islet, known as Spirit Island, situated 

 in the southern end of Lake Mille Lacs. It is the nesting place 

 of a colony of Common Terns (called locally "gulls") and a con- 

 siderable number of Purple Martins, to protect which the island 

 was set aside by the United States Government as a Bird Reserve. 



