Wild Fowl and Men 271 



his own rules governing the shooting. So long as the prin- 

 ciple of harvesting only the surplus is followed I do not 

 complain, but, in view of our rapidly decreasing wildlife, I 

 consider it the right of all to speculate whether present shoot- 

 ing regulations will insure a continuance of the wildlife 

 supply from which the annual crop comes. 



Some of my hunting friends would have me believe that 

 the hunting season is merely a friendly arrangement between 

 them and the ducks. I really think they believe it, but I am 

 quite sure that the ducks do not. I tell the men that while 

 it may be considered justifiable, it is nothing but the preda- 

 tion of the human mammal upon wild fowl and that all the 

 seeming care lavished upon the birds is simply to increase 

 the possibilities of future predation. The contrasts in our 

 hunting code are curious— our wild fowl receive loving at- 

 tention in three periods of their existence, but in the fourth 

 and last are subjected to the bloodiest gantlet ever run by 

 living animals. They get a continually increasing amount of 

 care in their winter quarters, they are watched and assisted 

 in all practical ways on the breeding grounds, they are 

 guarded by game wardens on their northward flight, but 

 when nesting is over and they start south, it is a different 

 stoiy. 



Then they receive the same treatment the Romans gave 

 their gladiators. Rome furnished its stadium performers with 

 kindness and luxury during the preliminary training period. 

 The men lived well, they were visited by lords and ladies 

 who admired their skill and strength and acclaimed them 

 heroes. But all of this was forgotten when the gladiators 

 strode into the arena: this was the time for which the spec- 

 tators had waited, when the payment for the tenderness of 

 preparation would be demanded, when the final settlements 

 would be made. 



Duck hunters recognize the needs of the ducks. They are 

 all agreed that southward-bound birds must have food, rest, 



