Propagating Game Birds-Individual Co'Operation 



The last Legislative Assembly directed that one-third of the amount collected 

 for licenses should be used in propagating game birds and encouraging their 

 increase. 



The only practical way so far found for doing this work is to interest indivi- 

 duals so situated that they can breed the birds and when mature turn them 

 into the fields and furnish enough foods of the approved varieties to local clubs 

 for planting. Steps have been taken in both of the directions indicated, but it 

 is too soon to report results. The work in this direction will be limited because 

 of trouble in finding persons willing to undertake the work of rearing birds in 

 the one case, and in procuring the planting of duck food in the other. There 



Found in the Timber 



would be little doubt of obtaining favorable results could a sufficient amount of 

 work be done in this direction. In all instances where efforts have been made to 

 obtain persons to hatch eggs of wild birds supplied by the state pay has been 

 demanded and given. There has been no offers of voluntary service from any 

 direction and if the policy of increasing the number of game birds is to be adopted 

 permanently then a game bird farm should be bought, equipped and operated 

 under the authority of the State. This course has been adopted with marked 

 success in some of the Eastern States and may be a wise policy for Montana, for 

 it is generally admitted that game birds are rapidly decreasing in numbers, and 

 that state propagation is the only effective way to remedy the shortage. No 

 provisions are now made by law for the establishment of a State game farm, 

 although such a move has been discussed from time to time at meetings of the 

 Game and Fish Commission, and the conclusion may be that the cost would be 

 so great that the plan would not meet with the approval of the Legislative 

 Assembly. 

 (37) 



