278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



If we are to have game in the future, we must strictly regulate 

 hunting, and adopt some system of game preserving, coupled with 

 artificial propagation of game. The policy of licensing hunters, which 

 is just coming into effect in New England, will largely restrict the 

 number of hunters, particularly the alien hunters; and this is a long 

 step in the right direction. Ignorant foreigners, who come here 

 without knowledge of our laws and with the idea implanted in their 

 minds that liberty in the new country means license to do .as they 

 please, should not be allowed to shoot at all or to range the country 

 at large, unless some means can be provided by which they may be 

 controlled and identified. Many of these people shoot all kinds of 

 mammals and birds for food, and the license fee of $15 exacted of them 

 (for hunting) stops most of the hunting by this class; while those 

 who continue to hunt must carry an identifying license, and have it 

 ready for the inspection of the citizen or game warden. But even 

 with the alien eliminated from the field there will still remain an army 

 of hunters so vast that, with free shooting allowed, the game will have 

 little chance except in remote regions. 



Under our present system, the only salvation of the game is to 

 prohibit its sale and thus remove the incentive for market shooting. 

 But with the advent of artificial propagation and scientific game 

 preserving the sale of such species as can be reared in cajjtivity or 

 produced in large numbers on game preserves may be permitted, and 

 may even become necessary as a means of encouraging propagation. 

 Unless some such plan is adopted, we shall soon have no game in our 

 markets except such as is imported from foreign countries. The 

 demand for game will continue, and it remains for our people to 

 decide whether they will produce it here or send thousands of dollars 

 abroad for it. Our country is so large that it is not probable that the 

 greater part of it ever will be occupied by game preserves, as is the 

 case in some European regions; therefore, the overflow from these 

 preserves will still afford shooting for the people in the country 

 surrounding them. It is undoubtedly true that the rich have advan- 

 tages over the poor under this system, as in many other respects, and 

 they always will have certain advantages under any system; but it is 

 also true that the farmer is in a position to derive some benefits from 

 the expenditure of the rich man's money in support of a system of 

 game preserving which, while it interferes to a certain extent with 

 free shooting, provides an abundance of game in regions where without 

 it and under the old system there would be no game at all. 



The above is not written for the purpose of advocating any change 

 in our system of game laws, to approve the European system of 

 game preserving, or to recommend laws permitting the sale of game; 

 but merely to point out the logical tendency of a movement which 

 already has gained a strong foothold in this country, and to show 

 the farmers the benefits that they may derive from the inevitable 

 extension of this system. 



