The Boone and Crockett Club 



Representatives a bill whose purpose was to put 

 migratory birds and fish under control of the 

 United States Government. The protection of 

 game and fish has been under the care of the local 

 authorities of the different States, and the effort to 

 transfer them from the charge of the States to the 

 charge of the Federal Government, though by 

 most people acknowledged to be desirable, was at 

 first believed to be unconstitutional. The matter 

 was discussed by a number of lawyers, among 

 whom were Mr. Shiras, Judge D. C. Beaman and 

 Hon. H. L. Stimson. These three gentlemen took 

 three diverse views of the matter. 



In 1906, Mr. Shiras wrote a long brief on the 

 subject, which was printed in that year in Forest 

 and Stream. It shows much research. The Shiras 

 bill never came to a vote, and in fact was intro- 

 duced only for the purpose of bringing the matter 

 before the public. 



The principle of game refuges should have the 

 broadest application. Major Wadsworth advo- 

 cates encouraging the farmers everywhere to set 

 aside tracts in which neither owners nor any others 

 except the designated killers of vermin may trap or 

 shoot. Refuges should be established everywhere 

 for mammals and for birds. It is the most import- 

 ant thing for which sportsmen should now work. 



479 



