THIRD BIENNIAL STATEMENT 101 



Moreover, a great number of well-informed men are con- 

 vinced that the Paradisia papuana — by far the most im- 

 portant bird of the plumage trade — is not at all on the verge 

 of extermination, and still is to be found in the immense 

 country of New Guinea in fairly abundant numbers. 



The measures already adopted by our Colonial Govern- 

 ment for the preservation of the wild birds of our East 

 Indian possessions are as follows : 



1. The creation of reservations, or sanctuaries, especially 

 for the paradise birds, where no shooting is allowed. These 

 are located as follows : (See black-line enclosures on map.) 



a. In the Schouten Islands and the group of the Japen 

 Islands (Waigeoe, etc.). 



b. In the isles belonging to the Radja Ampat group. 



c. In two parts of New Guinea ; one at the northwest 

 coast of Geelvink Bay, near the mouth of the Moe- 

 brabi River, and the other between the Wapoga 

 and Mamberano River, indicated in ink on the en- 

 closed map. 



2. In forbidding, for an indefinite time, or for some 

 years, the shooting of the rare species, such as the rubra, 

 apoda, etc. 



3. In restricting the yearly time of shooting. In 1918 

 the time for shooting is open from April to October, whilst 

 the shooting of the gouras or crowned pigeons — which, in 

 my opinion, are more in danger than the paradise birds — 

 is limited to four months, from April to August. 



4. Finally, every gun must have a license ; and the inten- 

 tion of the Government is to increase the number of allowed 

 licenses and to increase the price of each. 



When I returned to Java from my trip through the Moluc- 

 cas I had the pleasure of talking over with our Government 



