556 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



for the benefit of the general public. By the time such 

 refuges have been generally established the problem of 

 rearing our game birds will probably have been solved, 

 and from that time on there will be little difficulty in 

 our finding each autumn a few birds on which to work 

 our dogs and exercise our skill in shooting. 



Only a few years ago the shooting seasons com- 

 monly began on September ist and closed Janu- 

 ary ist. Now in most States above all in those States 

 where birds are least abundant the shooting season 

 lasts for two months only and often closes Decem- 

 ber ist. Almost without our noticing it the length 

 of the season has been reduced one-half. In many 

 States bag limits have been established, and while too 

 often these limits are disregarded, the sentiment that 

 this law should be obyed is constantly growing 

 stronger. 



Everywhere sportsmen might accomplish much 

 more toward increasing the supply of game if they 

 were organized and would work together for a common 

 object. In some States organizations have been ef- 

 fected, but sufficient interest has not yet been aroused 

 to make them ready to work together for the common 

 purpose. Sometimes, too, the organization is brought 

 together more for the purpose of making a showing 

 or redounding to the credit of some one individual 

 than it is for actual fish and game protective work, 

 and when this takes place, the organization becomes 

 a mere name, wholly inefficient for practical purposes. 

 The State of Connecticut possesses an organization 



