540 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



American grouse. These birds, so reared in their 

 natural ranges and then set free in refuges, would re- 

 stock covers now barren. The process of restocking 

 could be kept up indefinitely, and after a time at a very 

 modest cost. If one-half as much time and money 

 had been expended in attempts to domesticate or hand- 

 rear some of our native species as has been devoted to 

 the importation and rearing of exotic forms, the prob- 

 lem of our game supply would now be much simpler 

 than it is. 



With the Limicoline birds the case is somewhat dif- 

 ferent. No experience has been had with them, and 

 nothing is known about confining them or inducing 

 them to breed in confinement. On the other hand, as 

 migratory birds they are exposed to the gunner only 

 for a short time, and then pass on to sections less 

 thickly settled, and where, therefore, the dangers are 

 less. 



In the United States most of the efforts to rear game 

 birds have been devoted to foreign species, but to this 

 rule the State of Massachusetts is a notable exception. 

 On its public game farm it has for several years con- 

 sistently tried to rear quail and ruffed grouse, and 

 though not altogether successful, much experience has 

 been gained. 



It was left to another Massachusetts man, Dr. Clif- 

 ton F. Hodge, working from pure love of his task, to 

 accomplish the greatest results. 



The work done by the Massachusetts Commissioners 

 of Fisheries and Game, and by Dr. Hodge, is set forth 





