Reports of Field Agents 273 
LEGISLATIVE WORK 
During the legislative season of 1910, only two legislatures, those of M: ssa- 
chusetts and Rhode Island, were in session in New England, but the enemies 
of bird protection were rampant, and a great number of bills inimical to bird 
and game protection were introduced into the Massachusetts Legislature, 
some of which were pushed by their advocates with an energy and persist- 
ency worthy of a better cause. On the whole, the fight in the Massachusetts 
House and Senate was perhaps the most strenuous that the bird protectionists 
of this state have had to encounter. They were put upon the defensive. 
Six bills were introduced, to provide a longer open season for wild-fowl, 
or to change the law in some way advantageous to certain interests. 
The present law protects all wild fowl from January 1, to September 15, 
and prohibits their sale during the close season. The bills introduced either 
removed all protection or lengthened the season or the period of sale. After 
a long and bitter fight, they were all defeated. 
Several attempts to secure special privileges were defeated. The first 
of these was House Bill, No. 324, the intent of which was to convey to a private 
firm or corporation a state pond entitled Benson’s Pond in the town of Middle- 
boro. As this pond is a shallow and grassy spring-hole, where Ducks feed and 
breed, the bill was strongly opposed on the ground that to give or sell it to 
private parties would establish a precedent under which all ponds of that 
character in the Commonwealth might be so taken. The bill was finally re- 
drawn by the Committee on Harbors and Public lands, and now, as House Bill 
No. 1551, it refers the whole matter to the Harbor and Land Commissioners 
for investigation. They will report their findings to the legislature in tort. 
No attempt was made this year to secure the right to shoot Ducks and 
Gulls on the Metropolitan Park System, as the state authorities have placed 
men in motor-boats on these ponds to drive the birds out, but a bill (House Bill 
No. 652) was introduced to allow citizens of Massachusetts to hunt, subject 
to the game laws, on lands under the control of the Metropolitan Water and 
Sewerage Board. This bill, if enacted, would have opened up large tracts 
of land to hunters, and would have given them an opportunity to shoot Ducks 
on the shores of certain reservoirs. It was strongly opposed before the Com- 
mittee on Metropolitan affairs, who reported against it, and the report was 
accepted by the House and Senate. Under an act passed in 19009, all public 
lands’ in Massachusetts were made perpetual sanctuaries or reservations for 
birds and game. The defeat of House Bill No. 652 preserved the integrity of 
this act. 
Some constructive legislation was enacted. A bill was passed to provide 
for the preparing and printing of a special report on the game-birds, wild-fowl 
and shore-birds of the Commonwealth, to be prepared by the State Orni- 
thologist. Another extends the close season on Upland Plover until July, 
