THE SLAUGHTER OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 297 



boxes, and every other device known to man, with the possible 

 exception of punt guns, and sail and power boats. 



The reasons why market-shooting is so deadly destructive 

 to wild life are not obscure. 



The true sportsman hunts during a very few days only 

 each year. The market-gunners .shoot early and late, seven 

 days a week, month after month. When game is abundant, 

 the price is low, and a great quantity must be killed in order 

 to make it pay well. When game is scarce, the market prices 

 are high, and the shooter makes the utmost exertions to find 

 the last of the game in order to secure the "big money." 



When game is protected by law, thousands of people with 

 money desire it for their tables, just the same, and are wili- 

 ng to pay fabulous prices for what they want, when they want 

 it. Many a dealer is quite willing to run the risk of fines, 

 because fines don't really hurt; they are only annoying. The 

 dealer wishes to make the big profit, and retain his customers; 

 "and besides," he reasons, "if I don't supply them some one 

 else will; so what is the difference?" When game is scarce, 

 prices high and the consumer's money ready, there are a hun- 

 dred tricks to which shooters and dealers willingly resort to 

 ship and receive unlawful game without detection. 



The Division of Meat-Shooters contains all men who 

 sordidly shoot for the frying-pan — to save bacon and beef 

 at the expense of the public, or for the markets. There 

 are a few wilderness regions so remote and so difiicult of ac- 

 cess that the transportation of meat into them is a matter of 

 much difficulty and expense. There are a very few men in 

 North America who are justified in "living off the country," 



