280 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



came under its control. This, however, seemed 

 an almost insurmountable difficulty. Virtually all 

 the migratory game-birds reared their broods in 

 Canada, and that country was also the home of 

 many insectivorous birds. Unless these birds 

 could receive protection in those northerly re- 

 gions, the United States migratory law would be 

 only partly effective ; the United States would be 

 conserving its bird life for the benefit of Cana- 

 dian guns, just as France, Switzerland, and Eng- 

 land conserve their stock for the Italian trappers. 



With this knowledge fully in mind, Senator Mc- 

 Lean introduced a second resolution into the Sen- 

 ate requesting the President to propose to the 

 Governments of other countries a convention for 

 the preservation and protection of migratory 

 birds. Negotiations were immediately opened 

 with Canada for the consideration of a treaty to 

 that effect, but the breaking out of the war in 

 1914 delayed its consummation until 1916. Fi- 

 nally, in August of that year, it was ratified by 

 the United States, and a few months later received 

 the signature of King George of England. The 

 treaty is now in force and is to continue fully 

 operative for fifteen years from the date of ratifi- 

 cation, with the possibility of further extension. 



Under the terms of the treaty the contracting 

 powers agree that there shall be a continuous 

 closed season until 1927 on band-tailed pigeons, 

 little brown, sand-hill, and whooping cranes, 



