558 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



It is worth the while of all who are actively inter- 

 ested in having our game supply increased to keep 

 themselves informed of the legislation that is taking 

 place, of the progress that is being made in the artificial 

 rearing of fish and game, and above all of the views and 

 opinions of other sportsmen. Unless those interested 

 in this subject are willing to work together and to 

 bring their united intelligence and influence to bear 

 on the public, the reforms will come only slowly. 



The objects which sportsmen must work for are, 

 the enforcement of the laws that we already have, and 

 the passage and enforcement of better laws. 



Among the better laws needed are, first, statutes 

 authorizing the establishment of game refuges; sec- 

 ond, the prohibition of the sale of game; third, short 

 shooting seasons and a reasonable bag limit. 



Many of the States now insist on a payment by gun- 

 ners of a shooting license fee, and in many States the 

 aggregate of these fees amounts to a great sum. It 

 is proper that a large share of this money should be 

 expended for the benefit of those who pay the tax, and 

 a proportion of that expenditure should be for intel- 

 ligent experimentation in rearing our native game birds. 

 During the past twenty years great progress has 

 been made in game protection. To-day more interest 

 is felt in this subject than ever before, and more money 

 is available for it. If sportsmen will work together 

 to a common end, the next ten or fifteen years should 

 see in many parts of the United States better shooting 

 than has been had there for a generation. 



