CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 565 



has had marked success as yet with the Ruffed Grouse or any- 

 other of the woodland Grouse. Much may be done, however, 

 by stocking game farms with the favorite food plants of these 

 birds and protecting the birds from vermin. 



Many game preserves already are established in this 

 country. In some cases the lands of farmers owning or leas- 

 ing contiguous farms are leased by an individual or a club 

 for shooting purposes. This does not interfere with the cul- 

 tivation of the land, and in some cases the lessee provides a 

 gamekeeper to watch for poachers and to destroy vermin, a 

 moderate amount of shooting is done and the game increases 

 on the preserve, while the overflow makes better shooting in 

 the surrounding country. Individuals and clubs have bought 

 large tracts of land for preserves. Many game farms have 

 been established along the Atlantic seaboard, varying in size 

 from a few hundred acres to twenty-five thousand acres. 

 These include preserves established solely for large game, and 

 others maintained entirely for w^ater-fowl. Some are devoted 

 chiefly to native upland game birds, and others for the most 

 part to the propagation of Pheasants and other foreign game 

 birds. The propagation of game birds has only recently begun 

 in this country, but large numbers of Pheasants have been 

 reared, particularly in New Jersey. Some success has been 

 attained already with native game birds. We have learned 

 that we can propagate the Bob-white, Canada Goose, Wood 

 Duck, Black Duck, Mallard and Blue-winged Teal, and in 

 time we shall no doubt be able to produce these birds in large 

 numbers. Prof. C. F. Hodge has reared the Ruffed Grouse 

 in captivity, but only on a small scale. 



Game farms provide a refuge for both game birds and song 

 birds; they increase all useful birds. The owner has an inter- 

 est in keeping up the stock, which also serves to replenish the 

 depleted covers of the surrounding unprotected country. 



The principal objections to game preserves are that they 

 exclude the public and are unpopular. They are considered 

 un-American, as they give a few people a monopoly on hunt- 

 ing privileges within their borders. Preserves increase and 

 protect the game if properly managed. In this they are 



