19G NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



A new game law was enacted in 1902 which shows a very 

 earnest purpose on the part of the Newfoundland authorities to 

 protect their magnificent herds of caribou. If the law can be en- 

 forced against the natives, as well as against the visiting sports- 

 men, the former indiscriminate slaughter of deer can be regu- 

 lated, if not stopped. The difiiculties of educating the natives of 

 new countries to respect game laws are, it is needless to say, very 

 great. The new law, however, organizes the local guides, and 

 makes them to some extent responsible for the observance of the 

 law. This is, of course, a great step in the right direction. The 

 prohibition of water killing, a special close time during the mi- 

 grating season, and the prohibition of hunting within five miles 

 of the railroad, are also features which commend the new law 

 very strongly to all interested in game preservation. The deer, 

 however, have been so abundant in the past that they are still 

 regarded by the natives as their chief supply of fresh meat, and 

 it will be some years before the Newfoundlanders themselves 

 come to realize that intelligent and efficient protection is in their 

 own interest. This, however, is the history of the enforcement 

 of game laws everywhere. The law^ itself must be in advance 

 of public opinion, and complete enforcement of the law can only 

 be achieved long after the statutes are on the books. 



In closing the writer desires to acknowledge his indebted- 

 ness to Prof. J. A. Allen, to Mr. Andrew J. Stone for much of 

 the information, and for many of the photographs which appear 

 in this article, and to Mr. F. A. Lucas, of the U. S. National Mu- 

 seum at Washington, to Mr. A. S. Reed, of Victoria, British Co- 

 lumbia, to Mr. R. T. Varnum, Mr. Chas. D. Cleveland, Mr. Wm. 

 T. Hornaday, Mr. C. Grant La Farge, and Mr. Arthur ^vloore, of 

 New York, for illustrations. 



