BIRD-PROTECTIVE LAWS 



was to prohibit shooting during the spring migration, 

 when the birds were on their way to their northern 

 breeding grounds. Some states adopted this meas- 

 ure and the results bore out the predictions of those 

 who urged the passage of such laws. New York 

 State, for example, tried the experiment, and within 

 two years thousands of Black Ducks were breeding 

 where for a long time they had not been known to 

 occur in summer. So the feeling became general 

 among bird protectors that it would be an excellent 

 thing if spring shooting of all migratory game birds 

 should be stopped everywhere. But the legislatures 

 of many states paid small heed to the little minority 

 of their constituents who voiced such sentiments, and 

 the problem of how to bring about the desired results 

 remained unsolved. 



The Theory of Shiras. — In the year 1904 a United 

 States Congressman announced to the country that 

 he had found the proper solution for settling once 

 and for all the question of spring shooting, and for 

 putting to an end the ceaseless wrangling that con- 

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