ENEMIES OF WILD BIRDS 



WE may never hope to increase the numbers of our useful 

 birds and quadrupeds until their natural enemies and other 

 destructive agents are either largely removed or reduced to a 

 minimum. Each year sees a fresh horde of illiterate immigrants 

 landed upon our shores, off scourings from the southern countries 

 of Europe, people to whom our wild creatures appeal only as a 

 welcome addition to the bill-of-fare. 



Every season, hundreds, yes thousands of our useful birds are 

 both shot and snared by the Italian and Slav poacher. Our coun- 

 try is too wide, and the game wardens too few in number to 

 successfully cope with this menace. A large percentage of these 

 foreign violators of our game laws, belong to the laboring classes, 

 and are employed by railway companies, and contractors who need 

 wielders of the pick and shovel, and carriers of mortar. There is 

 a remedy for this sort of violation, and one that would have last- 

 ing effect. Every employer of foreign labor, whether railway com- 

 pany, or building contractor, should establish a hard and fast rule, 

 that the first man in their employ found with either a rifle or shot- 

 gun in his possession, or who destroyed any form of wild life 

 contrary to the laws of either state or federal government, be 

 summarily discharged. This would have a most wholesome 

 effect, and at the same time create of the employer a powerful 

 public benefactor. Why should not the employer of this sort of 

 violator treat the matter so far as the public is concerned as though 

 it was of a personal nature. Would the wealthy employer tolerate 

 the shooting of the useful birds upon his country estate, by his 

 own laborers? Why then should he not insist that they refrain 

 from destroying them elsewhere. 



The alien violator of our game laws, may offer as an apology for 

 his misconduct, ignorance of our protective laws and that he has 

 simply followed the customs of the country of his birth, where in 

 many instances all forms of wild creatures are considered legitimate 

 objects of pursuit for either sport or food. We have unfortunately 

 among our young American citizens a certain class, that seem to 

 be absolutely lawless, in spite of home influences or education, and 



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