148 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



cause the states bordering those rivers permitted the use 

 of motor boats in hunting; that is why. The Biological 

 Survey offers to remove the restriction the moment the 

 states concerned pass laws stopping the pursuit of wildfowl 

 with power boats ! 



The "petition" claims that "when our wet season arrives, 

 and likewise the waterfowl, we are denied the hunting 

 privilege." 



In Missouri, the fall of 1915 was a season of abundant 

 rainfall, and all the ponds were full; but the "petition" 

 suppresses that fact, and joyously proceeds as follows: 



"All other means [to secure a special dispensation] hav- 

 ing been denied us, we earnestly petition that no further 

 public funds be appropriated for the enforcement of this 

 migratory bird law, and that our Senators and Representa- 

 tives oppose it in every form, even to its repeal. 



BIRTH OF THE MISSOURI WAR. 



At this juncture it is well for all members of Congress 

 to know certain facts of history that bear directly upon 

 the campaign now being made against the federal bird law. 



The Interstate Sportsmen's Protective Association 

 (sender of the so-called "petition" abusing the Biological 

 Survey and demanding the "repeal" of the federal bird 

 law) , was born at Arter's Hall in Kansas City, on February 

 2, 1914, for the avowed purpose of either securing a 

 special dispensation for spring shooting or of killing both 

 the federal migratory bird law, and the proposed inter- 

 national treaty! (See The Sportsmen's Review, Cincin- 

 nati, Ohio., for February 14 and 21.) The organizers 

 declared that their "constitutional rights" had been 

 invaded, because the laws of the state of Missouri gener- 

 ously gave them the right to shoot wild-fowl UNTIL 

 MAY 1! 



In Massachusetts, young black ducks, a week old, have 

 been seen in the first week of May! (Forbush). 



