Duck-shooting 69 



means. In many of our states the exportation of 

 game has been prohibited for several years, and 

 for this law North Dakota is again conspicuous. 

 The effect has been that the largest area in the 

 United States for small game has been saved from 

 market gunning. Exportation laws are readily 

 enforced along all railroad lines, and are a prac- 

 tical means of protection. 



Excessive shooting has been checked in sections 

 of the South by establishing close days, — three 

 days of the week have been set apart as days of 

 rest for wild fowl, with the result that better shoot- 

 ing is had in the four open days than was previ- 

 ously had in six. The control of shooting lands 

 by clubs has also had a protective influence in 

 many localities. Strict club rules, judiciously en- 

 forced, have gone far toward bettering existing 

 conditions; in this way night gunning has been 

 almost done away with in sections of the South. 

 Too destructive methods of shooting should be 

 legislated against, especially battery shooting, and 

 any means by which large flocks of wild fowl can 

 be approached while resting. The repeating shot- 

 gun comes under this head. The protection of 

 parks, extended in some instances to large game, 

 is just as efficient in saving the destruction of 

 birds. The great benefit of the Yellowstone Park 

 stands out as a conspicuous example of this; all 

 of the ponds and sloughs here are occupied by 



