Report of Field Agents 301 



who has control of the greater part of a large pond allows no shooting there during 

 the spring, although he shoots some there during the fall. Early in August, 

 fully seventy-five Black Ducks were seen around this pond, most of which were 

 raised in the marshes bordering it. 



During a little more than two weeks spent in Maine, in an attempt to interest 

 some of the summer residents in the work of the National Association, your agent 

 found the different species of Gulls and Terns, which are protected there, very 

 numerous along the Maine coast. 



EDUCATIONAL WORK 



During the holidays of 1908, an exhibit was made by the National Association 

 and the Massachusetts Audubon Society at the Boston Sportsmen's Show. 

 This attracted a great deal of attention, interested many sportsmen in our work, 

 and was the means of somewhat increasing the membership of both Associations. 

 This exhibit lasted two weeks. 



The greater part of the educational work for the year has been conducted 

 by means of forty lectures given since the first of January by your agent. More 

 than the usual proportion of the lectures has been given before Farmers' Organi- 

 zations, Agricultural Societies, Horticultural Societies and Pomona and Subordi- 

 nate Granges of the Patrons of Husbandry. The intelligent farmers of New 

 England are fully awake to the importance of the protection of birds, and the 

 demand for lecturers on birds at Grange meetings is very great. Much influence 

 for better bird legislation is now brought to bear by farmers' organizations. The 

 audiences at these lectures have been large, as a rule, and a great deal of interest 

 has been manifested, particularly among teachers and students. The demand 

 for lectures continues unabated; and to meet this demand, in Massachusetts 

 alone, would require the entire time of one man. 



The correspondence of your agent in New England has increased enormously, 

 and the acquaintance with people interested in the protection of birds is constantly 

 widening. The results in every respect are encouraging, except that not enough 

 financial support is forthcoming, as yet, to carry out the missionary work that 

 is so much needed in the schools of this region. A very large immigration of for- 

 eigners of the bird-killing class is continually coming into this territory, and work 

 among them and their children is urgently needed. 



A series of newspaper articles, begun in 1908 and published in the press of 

 New England, has been continued during the past year. 



REPORT OF WILLIAM L. FINLEY 



During the past year, the Audubon Societies on the Pacific coast have accom- 

 plished good work in the cause of bird protection. In Oregon, the law against 

 selling aigrettes and the plumage of other native birds is now strictly enforced. 

 Last April, ten of the leading milliners of Portland were arrested for selling 



