VALUABLE WILD LIFE 9 



exterminate the most populous wild species on 

 earth, and accomplish that result in a very few 

 years. Let it be remembered for all time that no 

 wild species of mammal or bird can withstand 

 systematic slaughter for commercial purposes. 



This applies to all wild mammals that are killed 

 for their skins or their oil, all birds that are killed 

 for their plumage or their flesh, and all game-fishes 

 that are taken for sale. The ocean-going food-fishes 

 withstand the attacks of commerce more success- 

 fully than any of the species of wild life that inhabit 

 the land or the small bodies of water. 



As a foundation for an exact understanding of 

 the status of wild life in North America, it is neces- 

 sary to know what man has accomplished, up to 

 date, in the extermination of species. Through the 

 history of the past we can judge clearly and accu- 

 rately what man can do in the future, both in exter- 

 minating and in preserving the remnant. There 

 are occasions when a refusal to heed the lessons of 

 the past becomes a crime. If it is a crime to steal 

 $25, what shall we say of the extermination of a 

 valuable vertebrate species ? 



The wanton killing of the humblest individual 

 member of the human race, even a man whose vo- 

 cabulary is limited to two hundred words, is mur- 

 der, punishable by the severest of all penalties. We 

 hold that there are circumstances under which the 

 killing of a fine wild animal may be so wanton, so 

 revolting and so utterly reprehensible that it may 



