THIRD BIENNIAL STATEMENT 123 



Fifth. — We see that the propagation of pheasants on game 

 farms is worth while, though it is not a great factor in the 

 production of sport. 



Sixth. — As we have all said many times, guns and gun- 

 ners are increasing at an enormous rate, while many kinds 

 of game are growing more and more scarce; and the open 

 seasons are entirely too long. 



Seventh. — We have seen that bag limits are not saving 

 the upland game birds, partly because there are ten times 

 too many bags ! 



Eighth. — For land game we see all kinds of natural cover 

 and food diminishing through drainage, cultivation, timber- 

 cutting and fires. We see the natural enemies of the game 

 holding it at great disadvantages; and the hard winters 

 steadily are becoming harder and more destructive to 

 feathered game. 



Finally. — We see that the resident hunting license fees in 

 the various states, one and all, without a single exception, 

 are ridiculously and absurdly below the real value of the 

 sweeping wholesale privileges that they confer. 



THE ARMY OF GAME-KILLERS AND THE CHEAP 

 AND EASY LICENSE. 



For twenty years and more we have been very unwise 

 and wasteful in giving hunting licenses, to cover a whole 

 state and all its small game, for an entire season, for the 

 paltry and ridiculous sum of $1 each. Yes, that is the 

 standard rate for residents, — though a few states mark it 

 a few cents higher. In nearly all states non-residents are 

 charged higher figures, — as they should be. 



By this time it is to be hoped that the American people 

 are able to imagine the potential destructiveness of an army 

 of 5,000,000 vigorous men, all well armed and eager to kill. 



