THE MISTAKE OF THE GAME BREEDERS 



THE wave of interest in game breeding that now is 

 spreading over the eastern United States seems des- 

 tined to do harm as well as good. It is leading state game 

 commissions and large masses of sportsmen to forget that 

 the rock-ribbed foundation principle of continuous game 

 supply is the conserving of the natural stock. It is leading 

 them to think and believe that the human hand can breed 

 and rear game birds faster than the millions of gunners 

 can shoot them ! 



We do not oppose, or in any sense belittle, the breeding 

 of game. In preserves of all kinds and sizes, national, state 

 or private, it is very desirable, and deserves every encour- 

 agement. We are working for the breeding of big game in 

 sanctuaries, — a trifle harder, we think, than any other or- 

 ganization known to us. Our record of work in that line 

 of endeavor will not be impeached. 



But we insist that in keeping up the supply of game in 

 any state, the breeding of game on game farms is not the 

 only plan of salvation. There are others, equally important ; 

 and I am fearful that many American game breeders are 

 fast losing sight of the necessity to protect and nurse back 

 the native wild stock. 



I do not for one moment believe that any members of the 

 Grouse Family, — grouse and quail, — ever can be bred on 

 game farms fast enough to make any impression on the 

 annual supply of birds that may justifiably be killed by 

 sportsmen. Half a dozen good quail hunters and half a 

 dozen dogs can kill, each year, more quail than ten game 

 farms can produce by the best quail-raising methods that 

 have thus far been demonstrated. And as for ruffed grouse, 

 what is the use of debate? Those birds are not at all in the 

 running; and it is yet to be proven that any grouse can be 

 reared in captivity, on a game farm, in sufficient numbers 

 to make the slightest impression on the stock of killable 

 birds. 



