154 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



a special privilege to shoot wild-fowl in spring, up to March 

 31, or else the repeal of the entire federal migratory bird 

 law! 



Now, it happens that in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, 

 and Nebraska, wild ducks of several species begin mating 

 in February and March, and go right on nesting and rearing 

 their young throughout the whole region described wher- 

 ever conditions are suitable, and they are not driven aivay 

 by shooting! (Dr. George W. Field.) 



In view of spring breeding conditions, it is not right that 

 the states named should have the right to kill ducks and 

 geese later than February 1 ; and therefore the federal reg- 

 ulations fix that limit. For two years the Interstate Sports- 

 men's "Protective" Association of Kansas City and St. 

 Louis has been fighting the federal migratory bird law, and 

 has made numerous and noisy appeals to its members of 

 Congress, either to secure for them a special dispensation, 

 or destroy the law. 



As an example of shortsighted selfishness and bad ethics, 

 we will match the Missourians of the Interstate Sports- 

 men's Protective Association against the world. Naturally, 

 Congress steadily refuses to accede to the Missouri demand, 

 which is "even to the repeal of the law"! Even during 

 1916, both houses have voted by large majorities to sustain 

 the federal migratory bird law, by means of the usual an- 

 nual appropriation of $50,000 for its enforcement. 



The human prize ring bristles with rules based on ethical 

 principles. The fighter must not bite, kick, gouge, strike 

 below the belt, nor do an Indian war dance upon the anat- 

 omy of an opponent. In hunting we have not progressed 

 one-half so far as that. Our hunting ethics now forbid us 

 to kill female goats and sheep, lambs or kids, and the young 

 of birds. A bird must not be shot on her nest. Seventeen 

 states forbid the killing of female deer and fawns; but it 

 was only last spring that Governor Whitman resolutely 

 saved the state of New York from nation-wide disgrace by 

 vetoing a law that had been trickily slipped through our 



