REMEDIAL 157 



lating, and usually restricting, the taking of game are 

 introduced, and often many of them are enacted. 



The 'Governor of a New England State informed me 

 not long ago that one-tenth of the legislation of his State 

 related to fish and game, and recently I read a magazine 

 article which contained the statement that about one- 

 half of the legislative work of a Western State related to 

 fish and game. About dghty new game laws actually 

 were enacted in North Carolina in 1909, and many more, 

 no doubt, were introduced, debated and rejected. 



The industry of game law making seems to be on the 

 increase almost everywhere in the United States, and it 

 would seem absolutely ludicrous were it not for the fact 

 that a vast number of fanciful, petty crimes are created 

 which are not founded on the legal principles which 

 should underlie all criminal enactments.* The number 

 of crimes has grown so large that even the best lawyers 

 do not pretend to know them all. 



The game birds evidently do not increase in numbers, 

 but, on the other hand, many desirable species seem to be 

 in danger of extirpation more and more as the new crimes 

 are made, arid it is evident to all who are familiar with 

 the laws and with the condition of the game that our 

 game laws are not satisfactory. 



The wild fowl, as I have observed, must diminish in 

 numbers in populous regions where the marshes are 

 drained and in all places where domestic vermin and 

 trespassers, in addition to the wilder enemies of the ducks, 

 prevent the ducks from nesting — no matter how many laws 

 restricting sport may be enacted. It is an easy matter, as I 

 have observed, for individuals to increase the numbers of 



•See article on "Game Law Crimes" In The Independent, July 2, 1908. 



