ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 7 



Constructive Work 



There is much evidence to show that the Division of Game and Fish of 



our State Department of Agriculture is not only making a very honorable 

 record for law enforcement but that it is taking the lead in constructive 

 measures that are full of promise for the accomplishment of some of the 

 objects to which the Illinois Audubon Society is committed. This appears 

 in Warden H. C. Norcross' letter published elsewhere in this issue which 

 tells of the special drive for the protection of birds which was made last 

 April by the various employes of the Division of Game and Fish under in- 

 structions from Chief Warden Ralph F. Bradford of Springfield. Inter- 

 esting children in the conservation of bird life and acquainting them with 

 the laws relating to bird protection has apparently become a feature of the 

 work of the Division. This the Illinois Audubon Society cannot commend 

 too warmly. Each warden in his particular district (Every warden in 

 Illinois has far more territory than he can adequately cover unaided) is to 

 stimulate the growing influence of the youth in behalf of bird protection 

 and to visit constables, policemen, and other officials and encourage them to 

 play up to the important part they may and should have in this same work. 



In the issue of one year ago the value of a state publication showing- 

 activities of wardens and inspectors was pointed out. It is now announced 

 that such a publication is planned for the near future. Unfortunately for 

 the purpose of this article the data such a publication would furnish are not 

 at hand as this goes to press and interesting details of the work just out- 

 lined are not generally available. It should be said here and at this time 

 that no material for the columns of this Bulletin would be more interesting 

 to its readers than records of arrests and of other constructive activities of 

 the Division of Game and Fish. 



Let the writer tell what he knows at first hand assuming this to be 

 typical of the service our wardens are now giving us. It relates to Henry 

 Kern of Waukegan, one of the two wardens whose task it is to cover Lake 

 County with its 52 lakes, its areas of marsh land and sand flats and more 

 than 30 miles of shore land along Lake Michigan. Mr. Kern appeared at 

 the Elm Place School in Highland Park one day and displaying as his 

 ( redentials a copy of Reed's Bird Guide and the Conservation Number of 

 the Illinois Audubon Society's Bulletin made friendly inquiry about the 

 >tatus of bird study in the schools. In this way Mr. Kern went about his 

 territory visiting rural and city schools, making simple talks where this 

 seemed desirable and explaining the principal features of the laws for the 

 protection of wild life. 



His next appearance in Highland Park was to escort a violator of the 

 game laws to Justice Winter's court and stand by until the full penalty of 

 the law was administered. The records of Mr. Kern's arrests and those of 

 his colleague for Lake County, Mr. William Stratton of Ingleside, if avail- 

 able, would make good reading. With Inspector St. Clair in command they 

 patrolled the lake district and on the first day of the open season arrested 

 22 persons for hunting before sunrise. Each of these persons was fined 

 $25.00 and costs. Warden W. W. Schultze of 5114 Southwestern Avenue, 

 Chicago, has a record that reads very well. One of his most interesting ex- 

 ploits was gathering in a Chicago policeman who was celebrating a dav's 



