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agree, knowing as I do the wiles of the pot-hunter. You are well aware that, speak- 
ing of bird life, there is a peculiar instinct connected with that life which induces 
them to migrate in the spring to the north, returning southward in the fall. We live 
in Ontario with extensive territory extending to the Hudson Bay on the north and 
we receive a great portion of the bird life which spends its winters in the south. We 
not only receive them, but we take care of them during seven or eight months of 
the year. We furnish them with their breeding homes and we therefore have a 
claim upon them. We think that they are, to all intents, native-bred Canadians. 
It is true it would be a good thing if we could prevent that exodus after raising 
their broods here, but like many of our Canadians they are inclined, many of them 
to go south, some to stay, some to return again. Our Dominion Government pro- 
posed the national policy to stop this human emigration, and it might be as effi- 
cacious to prevent the emigration of bird life as human life, personally I have 
just that faith in it. Well, though we cannot do that, we feel like asking 
our American cousins to take care of the birds better than they do while they 
are not with us. We expect them to get a warm reception, and that they will 
be well peppered while there, but when these birds start for their homes again 
I think it is a scandalous thing that they should be shot at from every nook and 
corner on their way to the breeding grounds after they have mated. I, therefore, 
think of this objection to this codification—that it allows spring shooting. Snipe 
and other game birds are shot in April, while they are going through their little 
courting scenes, thus destroying the whole brood. We cannot artifically breed our 
native birds, but the sooner we take steps to shorten the shooting season, the 
sooner we will bein a position to preserve these birds. I think that our report 
will be that the shooting season in the fall should open on the 15th of September, 
and I notice in the copy sent me of your codification that that date was first 
written in, and afterwards crossed out and the 1st of September written. I think 
that was a great mistake. We knew it would restrict our season to some extent 
in regard to woodcock and other birds, but these birds are become somewhat ex- 
tinct, and the reason of the change was that anyone going out for these birds 
would be tempted to shoot other game. We do not want to destroy the little 
sport that still remains. We want to give our children opportunities of tak- 
ing vigorous exercise by preserving our game fish and birds. There are no more 
invigorating or heart-stirring days than those we have spent, when taking the 
rod and gun, we have gone in search of speckled beauties, or bagged our quail or 
partridge in the course of a long day’s tramp. Hares are allowed to be shot in 
February. Now, if a man goes out for them and comes on a bevy of quail he 
blazes away into them, and they are pot-hunted. Ducks are allowed on the other 
side to be shot up to the Ist of May, but that, I think;is all wrong. If our Amer- 
ican friends would memorialize the government to prohibit spring shooting, I 
think it would meet with the general wishes of the whole country. I would sug- 
gest that from the 15th of September to the 15th of December should be adopted. 
I think that is all I have to suggest just now, and I would like to hear from the 
other gentlemen what their opinions are on the subject. 
Mr. SKINNER: I am sorry that some of the other members of the Coditica- 
tion Committee are not here to speak on the subject. This subject of spring 
shooting was brought up, and immense pressure was brought to bear on the Com- 
mission by interested parties'on Long Island, New York State, to leave this 
spring shooting open. I think it is a very wrong thing, and a great mistake. 
Mr. AMSpDEN : This matter of spring shooting was desired by the Long Island 
shooters, though it was against the judgment of the better class of sportsmen and 
conservative men, who are in favour of doing away with it. Iam not surprised to 
