524 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



at that season. Among the results of the enforcement of this 

 law are the protection of the migratory wild-fowl which pass 

 north along these shores in spring and an immediate increase 

 in the numbers of Black Ducks breeding locally. Dr. Frank 

 Overton of Patchogue, N. Y., is given by Prof. T. Gilbert 

 Pearson as authority for the statement that over three hundred 

 Black Ducks remained last summer on the meadows near 

 Moriches, and many were reported as nesting. The photo- 

 graph reproduced on the opposite page shows about half of 

 a flock of these birds seen in this locality this year (1911). 

 This photograph was reproduced originally in Bird-Lore. 



Massachusetts has now (1911) a law protecting all wild- 

 fowl from January 1 to September 15. Though passed in 1909, 

 it was placed on the statute books too late to have any effect 

 that year, but during the winter and spring of 1910 increased 

 numbers of several species of wild-fowl were seen along the 

 coasts and in the streams and ponds. More Wild Geese than 

 usual stopped here. Black Ducks and Wood Ducks bred in 

 many localities where they had not nested for many years. 

 If this law is allowed to remain in force for a few years 

 longer its benefits will be plain to all. 



Within the past twenty years most of the Provinces of 

 Canada and many of the States of the Union have adopted 

 regulations forbidding spring shooting. Already this has re- 

 sulted in an increase in the number of birds breeding in many 

 of these States and Provinces, and, as a result, the fall and 

 spring flights along the Atlantic coast are beginning to increase. 

 This increase, to which Massachusetts has as yet contributed 

 very little, is now used by the advocates of spring shooting 

 as an argument for permitting it here. They say virtually, 

 "our neighbors have withheld their hands; they have pro- 

 tected and increased the birds, — so much the better for us. 

 Let us now have an open season in winter and spring, kill all 

 we can, and thus take advantage of the increase resulting from 

 the forbearance of our neighbors who are foolish enough to pro- 

 tect the birds for our benefit." Comment on such reasoning 

 is unnecessary. 



The advocates of spring shooting also point to the fact 



