522 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



"Authentic reports come to this office of large numbers of 

 Black Ducks being seen in their favorite feeding places after 

 the close of the open season, January 1. It is estimated, by 

 careful computation, that larger numbers of Black Ducks 

 were shot and shipped from along the Connecticut River the 

 past season than have been shot previously during a period of 

 five years altogether. 



"With all of these encouraging signs pointing to an abun- 

 dance of wild-fowl again, which will afford opportunity for 

 royal sport for four months of the year, we are not now hearing 

 the clamor for a longer open season. 



"Those who were, for selfish reasons, most persistent in 

 asking our Legislature for a longer open season have had pre- 

 sented to their actual view an object lesson which cannot be 

 disputed, and they are convinced of the wisdom of prohibiting 

 spring shooting of wild-fowl for all time." 



Under this law similar conditions have been continued in 

 Connecticut, although the dry seasons of 1910 and 1911 have 

 been unfavorable for fall duck-shooting in the interior. 



Mr. John H. Sage, secretary of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, writes as follows regarding the effect of prohibiting 

 spring shooting in Connecticut : — 



"In 1907 the General Assembly passed a wise and benef- 

 icent act, establishing an annual close season on Wild Ducks, 

 Geese and Swans, from January 1 to September 1. Experience 

 with such laws in other States had proved that their effect 

 was to increase the number of the birds. The game commission 

 of Minnesota made the following statement in 1906, after 

 several years' experience with a similar law: 'Every year our 

 aquatic fowl are increasing, and this year we have had local 

 Ducks breed in every slough where water is found.' Two 

 years' trial of this law in Connecticut has shown a good be- 

 ginning toward a similar increase here. Black Ducks and 

 Wood Ducks have begun breeding in unusual numbers. Wild 

 Geese have alighted where they have not been seen before for 

 years, and Mallards are reported to have bred within the 

 State; also, the migratory wild-fowl, which remain along our 

 coast in winter and spring, have increased in numbers." 



