36 FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT [W. VA. 



products, and without birds, such products would be impossible. The 

 annual loss from inect amd rodent pests, at the present time, is esti- 

 mated to be $ SO 0,0 00,0 00. When the public begins to think about 

 these figures, and realizes that this annual loss may be reduced by such 

 work as ours, I leel sine that an adequate support will be forthcoming. 

 If it is not, this generation is simply robbing children yet unborn. 

 This is a terribl^ charge, but it is a true one. If we permit the herit- 

 age of wild birds, that still exists, to be wasted and destroyed we are 

 robbing our children. We are simply trustees, and should seek to en- 

 large the estate in our care, rather than squander at. The public, as 

 trustee, is in honor bound to preserve the wild birds for> those that! 

 follow us." 



Effect of Keeping Boys in School. 



Section 19 of the Forest, Game and Fish Laws, provides: "No 

 hunters' license shall be issued to any minor under the age of fifteen 

 years, without the consent in writing?, from the parent or guardian of 

 such minor, such 'consent to be filed with the Clerk issuing such li- 

 cense." 



Aside from the fact that by keeping guns out of the hands of boys 

 of tender years, many accidents are avoided, there is another great 

 benefit derived from this particular section, that perhaps few people have 

 ever thought of. During the \vmter of 1909, the writer's attention was 

 called to the fact, by Frof. A. F. Shroyer, Superintendent of Schools of 

 Barbour county, that ono of the best features of the law, was the pro- 

 vision that prevented boys under the age of fifteen years, from hunting 

 without the consent of the parent or guardian, and remarked, at that 

 time, that the attendance, in many schools of his county, had been ma- 

 terially (increased for this reason. In reply to a letter written to this 

 gentleman, on the 17th day of November, of the present yean, asking 

 for an estimate of the number of boys that had 'been kept in school by 

 the effect of this law, Prof. Shroyer says: "Making a very conserva- 

 tive-estimate, I will say that at least fifty boys have been kept in school, 

 by the game law. ' By studying the question of attendance, and notic- 

 ing the difference since we have had this law, I am inclined to think 

 that my estimate is low. In some sections, I think it will average one 

 pupil to the school." Taking the minimum estimate in this case, and 

 assuming that the same rule would hold good in all counties through- 

 out the -State, and figuring on the percentage of school children in 

 Barbour county, as com pare d to the number in the whole State, we 

 would add more than one per cent, to the attendance in our schools, or 

 nearly 4,000 boys kept in school, instead of roving over the forests in 

 search of game.' 



Sale and Shipment of Game. 

 Despite the fact that it appears to be a hardship on the man thaH 



