CHAPTER XII 

 THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT 



GAME RESEARCH AND EDUCATION 



ANY appraisal of game research and education ar this particular moment must 

 inevitably consist in part of a mere sketch of things hoped for, as dis- 

 tinguished from a recital of things accomplished. Research aimed deliberately 

 toward the production of game crops is barely in its swaddling clothes, much less 

 out of them. Likewise education in the idea that game is a crop is hardly yet a 

 going concern, although education in game biology, and in the idea of preserving 

 the remnants of the virgin resource, is an activity of long standing. 



The motive power for both game research and education must arise first of 

 all from sportsmen's organizations. 



Sportsmen's Organizations. A high tide in the number and distribu- 

 tion of sportsmen's organizations was reached shortly after 1925. There were, 

 for instance, in Indiana alone at one time over 150 chapters of the Izaak Walton 

 League, and over 100 other sportsmen's organizations, not including those pri- 

 marily interested in fishing. The average ran almost three game organizations 

 per county. 



The number and membership of such organizations throughout the region 

 has since somewhat receded, although this recession has doubtless been accom- 

 panied by some qualitative improvement in programs, and' in the average mem- 

 ber's understanding of what it is all about. Map 21 shows the present distribu- 

 tion of sportsmen's organizations in the region, in so far as this could be de- 

 termined. 



The map shows some peculiarities of distribution. One is the frequency 

 with which a chapter of the Izaak Walton League coexists in the same town with 

 some other sportsmen's association. In Wisconsin it was determined that a fre- 

 quent cause of this condition lies in the relatively high dues of the Izaak Walton 

 League. The second organization is maintained to transact local work with 

 local finances. The two often work in close co-operation. 



Another peculiarity is the tendency for Izaak Walton chapters to occur in 

 or near industrial centers, as distinguished from rural communities. 



Organization Programs. The present objectives of sportsmen's organiza- 

 tions in the region fall into two classes, (1) legislative work, and (2) local bet- 

 terments. 



[259] 



