THE CONSERVATION OF BIRDS. 277 



The number of sportsmen has constantly increased. This 

 happens mainly as a result of increased population, though it 

 has been assisted by modern inventions. Improvements in 

 fire-arms have made successful hunting more sure. 



Railroads have penetrated wilder lands and afford easy 

 facilities for reaching good grounds that otherwise would be 

 inaccessible to the average gunner. When. we reflect that 

 game-birds showed a diminution in numbers a hundred years 

 ago, it is a wonder that, with the increasing forces working 

 against them, there are any left. So prevalent is the hunting 

 spirit that, as in other branches of. human interest, fraterni- 

 ties have been formed. Sportsmen's clubs and sportsmen's 

 leagues are many. Newspaper and magazine publishers cater 

 to sportsmen by devoting more or less space to sporting news. 

 Wealthy men, fond of shooting, club together, gain control of 

 favorite game resorts by purchase or lease, and erect expensive 

 houses thereon, in order that they may not forego home com- 

 forts while engaged in shooting. Along the coast and on the 

 borders of the great lakes are many such tracts, held for duck 

 and goose shooting. In the primeval woods are many others. 

 Such conveniences attract men who otherwise would not care 

 to endure camp-life, and thus add largely to the foes of game- 

 birds. There is another side to this, however, which is impor- 

 tant, for it may prove the salvation of th.e birds, the men of 

 wealth and influence are made aware of their scarcity. Their 

 investments in club properties as well as their love for sport 

 give them an incentive to try to mend matters. In a number 

 of instances they have replenished their covers with imported 

 birds. They establish rules to regulate shooting on their ter- 

 ritory, they influence public sentiment by appeals through the 

 press, and direct legislation with a strong hand. There are 

 many sportsmen, without property rights, in favor of adequate 

 protection, who are ready to quit when they have killed a 

 reasonable number of birds. Such men are the right sort of 

 leaven ; they can preach the doctrine of conservation with 



