The Game Preservation Committee 



Advantages of proposed legislation against the use 

 of improved firearms will be offset by increasing 

 population, resulting in a proportionate increase 

 of hunters. This proposed legislation would also 

 arouse active opposition by powerful interests a 

 most undesirable thing because the first step toward 

 effective laws and the enforcing of them is harmony 

 among all the interests. Long close seasons are 

 often necessary, sometimes unnecessary, often bene- 

 ficial, sometimes harmful. The resulting advan- 

 tages are offset, as experience demonstrates, by the 

 killing of the increased 'supply of game so rapidly 

 on the opening of the season as to restore the old 

 conditions. Appeals to gunners for moderation in 

 killing have only slight effects, for a proportion of 

 gunners are too thoughtless to heed them. 



"Whatever kinds of firearms are used, natural 

 enemies, increasing population, the gradual occu- 

 pation by settlers of the game country, motor cars, 

 improved power boats, the extension of trolleys, of 

 railroads, of good roads; in fact, all advancing 

 material interests, are inevitable improvements 

 which tend to exterminate our game. What, then, 

 can be done to offset these elements and preserve it? 



"From the present outlook it seems that the ante- 

 lope should never again be molested by the sports- 

 man. At present in all places in the United States 



429 



