IS quite absurd, since we should encourage the breeding of wood- 

 ducks and other species which most need the attention of breed- 

 ers, and we should not be obliged to send money abroad to 

 purchase American ducks. Some states encourage the profit- 

 able breeding of all game, and no doubt all of them will before 

 long, since the game breeders' laws are popular in the states 

 where they have been given a trial, and they have resulted 

 in the production of a big number of wild ducks, pheasants and 

 other game. 



The sea-ducks, or deep water ducks, canvas-backs, red- 

 heads, scaups and others, are splendid food birds, and no 

 doubt the breeding of these fowls for sport will be attempted 

 later. Some experiments, in fact, are now being made. I 

 would strongly advise the breeding of these birds in a semi- 

 wild state about the ponds and sloughs where they formerly 

 bred in great abundance, since the easiest way always is the 

 best way, and it is easier to breed birds in places which they 

 have selected than it is to introduce them to places which may 

 not seem desirable to them. The former breeding range of 

 the canvas-back certainly extended into Michigan and Wis- 

 consin. I have seen these birds and the other deep water 

 ducks breeding abundantly in the Dakotas. The Black- 

 Hawk Club, in Wisconsin, and the other duck clubs of the North- 

 western states should experiment with the sea ducks and, of 

 course, these birds can be handled on many marshes in Canada, 

 provided the industry of duck breeding be encouraged before 

 all of the desirable breeding grounds are drained in the interest 

 of agriculture! I have long favored the saving of some of the 

 duck breeding grounds. They will be saved when it is known 

 that wild duck breeding can be made more profitable than 

 agriculture. The Canadian marshes could supply the world 

 with wild ducks and eggs, provided the industry were properly 

 regulated. 



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