90 Bird - Lore 



"Since the last report sent you (Nov., 1903), our society has gained 

 431 new members, giving a total membership of 6,016 persons, of which 

 1,505 are Juniors. We have 118 local secretaries working in 117 

 districts through the state. 



"A good number of Educational Leaflets, and other circulars, have 

 been distributed. New warning posters, or copies of the law, printed on 

 cloth, have been sent out freely. There has been a good demand for the 

 two bird charts published by the Society. The calendar for the last year 

 has been republished for 1905, and plates taken from it without dates, 

 to sell in sets. A number of 1904 calendars were given to teachers of 

 vacation schools, to help them in their nature -work. 



"A new traveling lecture, written for children, illustrated by colored 

 plates, was added to our two lectures, with lantern and slides, and all 

 three were used a good deal, especially during the spring. 



"Our four traveling libraries have been loaned continuously, and new 

 books are now being added. 



"The very few complaints of violations of the law which have been 

 made, have been reported to the Fish and Game Commission. 



"An appropriation for this year was made to help the Biological 

 Farm which Dr. Field has started at Sharon. 



"The following meetings have been held, in addition to the regular 

 monthly meetings of the Board of Directors: A course of three lectures 

 by Rev. Herbert K. Job; a free lecture or public meeting, addressed by 

 Mr. Ralph Hoffmann, and Mr. William Dutcher, and a field-meeting or 

 bird -walk, open only to Associate members." 



Maine. — A session of the legislature will be held early in 1905, and 

 the Committee hopes to be able to carry out some of the recommen- 

 dations suggested in the last report, for the improvement of the game and 

 bird statutes. Whether public opinion is strong enough at the present 

 time to secure the passage of a law preventing spring shooting of Ducks, 

 Geese and shore birds, is not definitely known; however, such a law is 

 much needed, especially in the case of the American Eider. Fishermen 

 still take the eggs of this fast -disappearing bird, notwithstanding all the 

 efforts to prevent this wasteful practice. Each year lessens the number 

 of these Ducks breeding on the Maine coast, and, unless some radical 

 measure can be devised to protect the Eiders, they will shortly have to 

 be classed among the birds that formerly bred in the state. A close 

 season for ten years would not be too radical a law to meet the exigen- 

 cies of the case. 



Eleven wardens were employed during the breeding season of 1904, 

 and it gives the Committee great pleasure to state that all of these men 

 gave faithful, interested and excellent service. All of the bird colonies on 



