CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 525 



that many more wild-fowl are killed in winter in the southern 

 States than are killed here. Their principal argument is that 

 we should permit spring shooting here because it still is allowed 

 in the south. Even from a selfish standpoint this is the weakest 

 possible argument for spring shooting. By killing wild-fowl 

 in the fall we certainly can prevent them from falling into the 

 hands of the southerners; but those which come back to us 

 in spring have escaped both northern and southern gunners, 

 if, indeed, they have been south at all. Why should we kill 

 them then, when they are going to their breeding grounds, 

 and when every mated pair killed cuts off the return to us in 

 the coming autumn of perhaps six to a dozen young.? Self- 

 interest alone should prohibit spring shooting. 



If the southern people were permitted by law to rob and 

 kill those of our citizens who visit them in winter should we 

 consider that a sufficient reason why we should plunder and 

 murder those, who, having escaped the dangers of the south, 

 return in safety to their homes in the north.'* Are we so short- 

 sighted that we cannot see that spring protection works to 

 our own advantage.'' When all is considered we find that the 

 shooting in the south does not affect our supply of birds here 

 nearly so much as is commonly supposed. The majority of 

 the wild-fowl which are killed in the south are birds which never 

 saw New England. They are bred in the northwest, and 

 reach the south in winter by journeying south or southeast 

 across the country, and never come here at all. Also, many of 

 the species which are shot along our coasts are rarely hunted 

 in the south. Wood Duck and Teal go far south, but many 

 Black Ducks and some of the bay and sea Ducks rarely go 

 very far to the southward of Massachusetts. The southern 

 gunner does not consider the Scoters or "Coots" and the 

 Mergansers or Sheldrakes worth the powder and shot necessary 

 to kill them, and he rarely shoots them. These birds are shot 

 mainly on the coast from Labrador to New Jersey, and they 

 must be protected here if at all. Many Black Ducks, some 

 Brant and many sea Ducks remain in winter off the coast of 

 southern New England and New York, particularly in mild sea- 

 sons, and if protection is continued here more will remain. 



