298 Bird -Lore 



in Massachusetts, WmiiioiU aiul Xcw Hampshire, giving the Ciovernor the right 

 to issue proclamations to stop all shooting and declare a close seasi)n, when 

 hunters in the woods are likely to cause forest fires during dr\- weather. 



Bills establishing a system of registration for resident hunters were enacted 

 in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and V'ermont, and atlem])ts to repeal or nullify 

 such laws were defeated in Massachusetts. 



Bills forbidding the spring sheeting of wild-fowl and shorc-l)irds were enacted 

 in Massachusetts, and a stiong attempt to repeal a similar law in Connecticut 

 was defeated. All the states of New England, except Rhode Island, now pro- 

 hil)il the spring shooting of wild-fowl, but there are one t)r two unimportant 

 e.\cc])tions made to this rule in Maine and New Hampshire. This year the Maine 

 Legislature passed an act establishing an open season on the " (jolden-eye or 

 Whistler" in Hancock count}' frcan November i to April i. All such exceptions 

 to the geneial laws abolishing s]:)ring sho(;ting should be and must be rejiealed. 

 Spring shooting in New England is now very nearly abolished, so far as legislative 

 enactments can prevent it. It must Ije the task of the future to close the gaps in 

 this legislati(.n as fast as possible, and to iniluence public sentiment in favor 

 of the enfoi cement of these laws. 



The laws that have been enacted for the prohil)ition of spring shooting and 

 for the registration of hunters could net have succeeded without the cooperation 

 of the best sportsmen of New England, who have woiked unsparingly for the 

 passage of these bills. 



There have been the usual efforts to abolish or change the game commissions 

 in the New England states, but none o{ these attem}:)ts have been successful. 



The increase of deer throughcuit New England is a matter for serious con- 

 sideration. In man}- locatities they are regarded as a nuisance by the farmers. 

 The rapid muhii)lication of these animals shows the possibilities of protection 

 bv statute. Most of the natuial enemies of the deer having been killed, they have 

 increased tremendtaisly in these New England states where they have been pro- 

 tected at all times, and even a short open sea.son, such as is allowed now in Ver- 

 mont and New Ham])shirc, has not greatlv decreased their numbers; while in 

 Maine, with a longer open season and mueli hunting, they arc holding their own 

 ven- well. 



Acts prohibiting hunting from ])ower-l)oats, such as one passed in Connecticut 

 this vear, are now in force in most of the New England slates. Shooting wild-fowl 

 from sail-b(!ats, which is prohibited in .some states, should be forbidden in all. 



Ceilain acts that were introduced for the purpose of securing statistics of 

 the amount of game taken were defeated, as were also most of the bills limiting 

 the number of birds to be taken in a day. Many si)ortsmen still oppose such 

 legislation. 



There seems to be no dis|)osition now in New England to repeal the laws for 

 the protection of .song and insectivorous birds, but in some states the laws regard- 

 ing the use of birds for milliner\ ornaments need strengthening. 



