CONSERVATION OF WATERFOWL 59 



cially and morally. In the United States it is easy for any sportsman to 

 assist on restoration projects undertaken by local groups; he can also 

 help the Federal program by purchasing duck stamps. By law ninety 

 per cent of the receipts from the sale of these stamps goes into the pur- 

 chase, development, and maintenance of migratory waterfowl areas. 

 Anyone who has a dollar or more to contribute, can do so by buying 

 extra stamps with the assurance that ninety per cent of his money will 

 go to the marsh restoration program. He can also support private or- 

 ganizations that are sponsoring restoration. He can help by encouraging 

 the development of suitable local areas. There are few places where it is 

 not possible to develop a small marsh or pond attractive to waterfowl 

 and which will have value in furnishing food and shelter for the birds. 

 Many cities have in their park systems ponds or lakes that are very at- 

 tractive to waterfowl because they are properly developed. Such areas 

 have a value far beyond that of the actual number of birds they pre- 

 serve because they educate the people to realize the importance of the 

 waterfowl conservation program. 



Every sportsman can aid by helping to raise the standards of sports- 

 manship. We who hunt ducks (and I number myself among the most 

 enthusiastic followers of this sport in the country) have been lucky in 

 one way. Long after much of the upland game had vanished we had 

 remaining a tremendous supply of migratory waterfowl. We failed to 

 use it wisely and as a consequence have had to cut down on the harvest. 

 Now we face the necessity of building back the supply. Until recently we 

 have not had the necessary urge and drive to do this. We still think too 

 much about the number of birds in our bag and too many of us still feel 

 that we should get the limit of birds each time we hunt. We believe that 

 we are entitled to that number of birds and if we do not get them feel 

 that something is very wrong. We still hold the view that we are not 

 successful hunters unless we can take enough birds not only for our own 

 use but also to give to our friends. 



Until recently we have not had anything comparable to the attitude 

 that has developed among a great many trout fishermen who deliberately 

 give the trout all the breaks. They use lighter equipment, barbless hooks 

 and restrict themselves voluntarily to less than the legal take except on 

 rare occasions when they have actual use for the limit of fish. There 

 are many hundreds of trout fishermen who keep only one or two fishes, 

 carefully returning to the water all those not needed for their own per- 

 sonal use. 



I know many grouse hunters who are satisfied with one or two birds 

 per day. They enjoy matching wits with the game and they enjoy being 

 in the woods and doing the rather strenuous hiking necessary. It has 

 been encouraging to note the growth of a similar attitude among duck 

 hunters. Each year there are more people who are willing to give the 

 birds a break. There are increasing numbers of wildfowlers who have 

 ceased to be limit worshippers and who are satisfied with one or two 

 birds per day if that is what they need for their own table. They have 



