11 



bob-white in domestication. Mallard ducks, black ducks, wood 

 ducks, teal, Canada geese and a few other species have been 

 reared successfully. When such birds as wood ducks and 

 Canada geese find a ready market alive at from $5 to $15 a 

 pair, or more, those who understand the business of rearing 

 them ought to make a profit. Pheasants may be sold at similar 

 prices, and at present they will bring about $3 per pair, food 

 value, in some of our markets. Those who understand the busi- 

 ness claim that the cost of rearing them is less than $1 each. 

 Any successful pheasant raiser in Massachusetts ought now to 

 be able to dispose of all the birds that he can rear. If the 

 people take advantage of their opportunity, enough of these birds 

 should be raised by farmers and sportsmen to make them plenti- 

 ful in our markets. The ring-necked pheasant, which is the 

 species most commonly reared, is not a conspicuous success as a 

 wild game bird in Massachusetts; but it has succeeded better, 

 under the adverse conditions surrounding game birds here, than 

 has any other introduced species. It thrives best, however, if 

 given some care and protection, and it needs to be fed in winter. 

 As a half-domesticated game bird, artificially propagated, pro- 

 tected and fed by man, it is unexcelled. Its general distribution 

 throughout the State under protection is not particularly de- 

 sirable, for it is liable to diseases that are fatal to native game 

 birds, and where it becomes numerous it is destructive to cer- 

 tain crops, and consumes the food of quail in winter. But if 

 reared in inclosures while young, and allowed to run half wild 

 on the grounds of the o^^mer, it makes a very desirable addition 

 to the supply of game for the table, and therefore will probably 

 take the place in our markets of some of the native game birds 

 now illegally sold. 



A general open shooting season for pheasants will prevent 

 them from becoming too numerous, and thus constituting a 

 menace to our native game birds. In the meantime, those who 

 Avish to propagate or protect pheasants have now their oppor- 

 tunity. 



Deer may be reared in pastures and sold alive at a profit. 

 The rearing of game in inclosures or on preserves must be de- 

 pended on to help in solving the problem of the game supply of 

 the future. 



