304 Bird - Lore 



and Means Committee, and was delayed until late in the session; but the Chair- 

 man of the Fish and Game Commission, together with Mr. William Brewster, 

 president of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and many other friends of 

 the bill, came handsomely to its support, and a redraft was finally passed. The 

 commissioners have now taken, by gift or otherwise, about two thousand acres 

 of land, and are protecting this vanishing game-bird in its last stronghold, where 

 they intend if possible to propagate it, so that it may, in time, take the place it 

 formerly occupied in the Atlantic coast states. 



The campaign in Connecticut was long and tedious, occupying more than 

 five months, but was finally successful in every respect. The forces which for 

 so many years had been able to keep open a spring-shooting season for wild 

 fowl, snipe and shore birds, were defeated and demoralized for the time being, 

 and all shooting of these birds is now prohibited in Connecticut from January 

 I to September i. The enactment of this law was finally followed by that of 

 another requiring the registration of all hunters. This is the greatest gain ever 

 made by the bird protectionists in Connecticut, for it provides money in the 

 shape of license fees to be used for the enforcement of the game and bird laws, 

 which were formerly little respected in many parts of the state. Another law, 

 which was strongly advocated and passed, prohibits the sale of upland game- 

 birds for a period of years. The Connecticut legislation was upheld by the 

 Audubon Society, by many enlightened sportsmen and intelligent farmers, 

 and opposed mainly by market hunters and others who care nothing about 

 the extermination of the birds provided they get their share of the birds or the 

 money which is expended in hunting them. 



My work in New Hampshire was mainly devoted to the support of a so-called 

 omnibus bill for the protection of fish, birds and game, and bills for protecting 

 the Wood Duck, Upland Plover and Killdeer at all times for a series of years. 

 Mrs. Arthur E. Clarke, of Manchester, president of the New Hampshire Audu- 

 bon Society, exerted a most potent influence for the passage of this legislation, 

 and she was ably seconded by the secretary, Mrs. F. W. Batchelder. These 

 ladies fully exemplify the power that officers of the Audubon Societies possess. 

 Great credit is due to Chairman Nathaniel Wentworth of the Fish and Game 

 Commission, for his work in shaping legislation. During this legislative work, 

 I have been impressed with the fact that each member of this Association and 

 each member of the State Societies is capable of exerting a considerable influence 

 toward the enactment of good laws, and a large part of my work has consisted 

 of getting acquainted with those who are interested in bird protection, and 

 showing them how they can best use their influence. 



Twenty-two lectures were given from January to June before state normal 

 school teachers, farmers' associations and legislators in the three states. 

 Most of these talks were illustrated by stereopticon, and recent reports show 

 that they have led people, especially children, to feed birds, put up bird-houses 

 and otherwise care for birds and studv them. From June to October, fully 



