THIRD BIENNIAL STATEMENT 67 



"There must be adduced some evidence that a great many 

 Long Island people wish quail-shooting stopped for five 

 years, or nothing can be done. Gather your people to- 

 gether, then appeal to the State Conservation Commis- 

 sioner for a regulation that will achieve the desired result. 

 Prove that it is wanted by the people at large and the 

 order will be forthcoming." 



On this advice Mr. Henshaw and the others promptly 

 acted. Mr. Henshaw's petition was signed by about 160 of 

 the best citizens of Long Island, and sent to Commissioner 

 Pratt. And then came the show-down. 



At the hearing by the Conservation Commission in New 

 York on April 30, 1917, there were some startling develop- 

 ments. Practically all the country clubs of Long Island, to 

 a total number of about 16, were well represented, — solidly 

 against the petition! 



The New York Association for the Protection of Game 

 was represented by Robert B. Lawrence, Secretary and 

 John H. O'Connor, Counsel, both in vehement opposition to 

 the petition ! They gave the quail of Long Island 



"Such protection as vultures give to lambs." 



Of persons supporting the petition, there were present 

 precisely five: Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Weeks, Miss Weeks, Dr. 

 C. H. Townsend and Mr. Hornaday. The most astonishing 

 feature of the hearing was the appearance of Messrs. Law- 

 rence and O'Connor, representing an alleged game protec- 

 tive organization. 



The representatives of the hunting clubs contended that 

 quail were "not disappearing," or at least "not from their 

 grounds." Then the writer asked each man who believed 

 that quail were not decreasing, over Long Island generally, 

 to hold up his hand. 



At first not one hand went up. Then the quail-killers 

 anxiously glanced about and looked at each other inquir- 



