36 GAME CLUBS, PARKS, AND PRESERVES 



National Government is best, since for some reason 

 national laws are the more closely observed and 

 readily obeyed. Local liquor laws, for example, are 

 often evaded, but there is not a tavern in the land 

 which has not the license of Uncle Samuel framed 

 and hanging on the wall, to indicate that the tax is 

 paid. 



The cost of the proposed game-preserves for birds 

 is inconsiderable. The best places are the wildest, 

 the most inaccessible, the cheapest ; many of them of 

 necessity are largely covered with water — worthless 

 marshes, such as are seen at the mouth of the Mis- 

 sissippi and elsewhere. 



The title to many good places for game-refuges is 

 now in the National Government. 



The cost of maintenance of such parks would 

 amount to little. The keeper's compensation, as at the 

 clubs, would be in part, at least, the right to farm the 

 arable portions of the preserve. Few keepers would 

 be necessary if it were known that the Secret Service 

 was prepared to report offenders. 



The tendency of legislation, national and State, is 

 toward the protection of the game. The Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture has recently been given certain 

 powers looking toward its restoration. Restoration, 

 however, to open fields and a vast army of modern 

 guns, would amount to nothing. The remedy is the 

 national game-preserve. 



Thirty-one States have game -commissioners, or 

 other officers whose duty it is to preserve and, in some 

 States, propagate the game. There are ten national 

 and forty-three State organizations concerned with 



