88 Bird - Lore 



To complete the chain of protection in this part of the Gulf, the Light 

 House Department was appealed to for aid, which was promptly given (see 

 details, page 73). On the recommendation of President Miller, a warden 

 has been employed by the National Association to patrol among the islands, 

 to post warning notices on them, and to warn masters of vessels that for any 

 violation of the bird or game laws by themselves or their crews, they will be 

 held to the strictest accountability, even to the libeling of the vessel. Capt. 

 Wm. M. Sprinkle, the warden, furnishes his own schooner and a helper, 

 and as he is thoroughly acquainted with all of the breeding-grounds and the 

 islands resorted to by the birds, it is believed that in the future they will be 

 safe and will be permitted to breed undisturbed. President Miller, in a re- 

 cent letter to the National Committee, gives this guarantee of future efifort: 

 "This state has made a splendid beginning, and, with the Audubon Society 

 still engaged in educating the people to the value of bird life as a great pub- 

 He asset, we hope to carry on the work until our state laws and a wise sen- 

 timent make us abreast of the most advanced commonwealth." 



Massachusetts. — The only paid warden employed has charge of the 

 Weepecket Islands. His report is very satisfactory, as it shows that the 

 Terns breeding on that island were unmolested during the entire season 

 and that they made a normal increase. Mr. George H. Mackay, who has 

 for so long a period given such watchful care to the birds breeding on 

 Muskeget, writes, "I have nothing new regarding this island; conditions 

 there were long ago settled satisfactorily to me, and it runs itself without 

 care nowadays. So far as I know, there is nothing to complain of in that 

 quarter." Mr. Mackay adds, regarding game legislation, that he has 

 watched and guarded the interests of the public most earnestly and closely. 

 "No obnoxious bills were passed, but a most important and valuable bill 

 was championed and was successfully passed. This was the prohibition of 

 sale of spring shore, marsh and beach birds. I regard it as a most impor- 

 tant factor in bird protection." The National Committee agree most 

 heartily with Mr. Mackay in his opinion, and consider that the citizens of 

 Massachusetts owe a great deal to his persistent and indefatigable work. 

 The influence of this excellent legislation reaches far beyond the limits of 

 the commonwealth where it was enacted. 



Mr. Mackay intends to make an effort to secure similar legislation for 

 Ducks, and he should be supported most earnestly by every sportsman in 

 the state, as the killing of any species of game birds during the northward 

 migration is wrong both in principle and practice, and is indefensible from 

 any standpoint. Mr. Frederick A. Homer gives the following interesting 

 account of the Terns breeding on that historical island, Penikese: "The 

 Terns are increasing very rapidly from year to year, and the past year seems 

 to have been an exceptional one. In all my experience 1 have never seen 



