lishment of sanctuaries and allowing the game to increase within 

 their boundaries, that the sections now open to shooting can be 

 kept supplied with animals of the chase, by the natural overflow 

 from within the protected areas. 



Many useful and interesting species of our wild birds and ani- 

 mals have either entirely disappeared from our country, or become 

 in danger of extermination, all within a comparatively few years, and 

 it is only through methods of perpetuation such as are brought 

 about by the establishment of Sanctuaries and Game Preserves, that 

 we shall be able to convey to future generations a part of the her- 

 itage that is due them. 



Until our gamebirds and animals have been sufficiently increased 

 in numbers through protective measures, to allow with safety the 

 shooting of the yearly increase, we must keep certain areas closed. 

 One season of persistent and promiscuous shooting will destroy 

 all the good results that have been obtained through ten seasons of 

 protection. Many tracts must be maintained as Wild Life Reserva- 

 tions, and forever held inviolate from destructive agents. Protec- 

 tion is the one thing that will spell success in this attempt to increase 

 our wild life. Protection from the lawless human element; protec- 

 tion from starvation ; protection from their natural enemies. Given 

 these, the birds and quadrupeds will rapidly multiply without the 

 aid of artificial means of propagation. 



Time was when our wild birds and animals formed an important 

 source of food supply to the people of this country. But with the 

 advance of civilization and its modern methods of producing food 

 in abundance and in a portable form, our wild life has ceased to be 

 a commodity of this sort, except in a few remote corners of the earth 

 peopled by savage tribes. Today our wild life in civilized commun- 

 ities plays a far more important part in the economic, sentimental 

 and recreative life of the people. 



Since we may thus increase our wild creatures by simple methods 

 that put incumbrance upon none, let us assure posterity that the 

 woods in springtime will always resound with the drumming of the 

 Ruffed Grouse; that from the blue overhead will come down to us 

 the "honk" of the swiftly winging platoons of the Wild Goose; 

 and that the Deer will always feed in the wild pastures. 



[61] 



