CONSERVATION OF THE EIDER 



and, best of all, to the practical-minded, the 

 birds would pay well for their protection by 

 gifts of eggs and of valuable eider-down. 



How can the present senseless habit of de- 

 struction be stopped and this desirable state of 

 affairs brought about? As a preliminary step 

 in Labrador and Newfoundland I would sug- 

 gest that a few islands scattered along the coast 

 should be made bird reservations, and care- 

 fully guarded by one or two families who live on 

 or near the islands. These people should be al- 

 lowed to taJce the first set of eggs and down, as 

 well as the down left behind after the duck has 

 hatched out the second set and has left for the 

 season, but should not be allowed the use of 

 firearms, and their Eskimo dogs must be con- 

 fined during the nesting-season. In other words, 

 these people must not frighten the birds and 

 must treat them kindly. The object of the ex- 

 periment should be spread broadcast along the 

 coast with the request for fair play, so as to 

 restrain others from poaching and frightening 

 the ducks on the reservation. 



The rapidity with which the birds will re- 

 spond to this treatment and the intelligence 

 they will display in the recognition of the safety 

 315 



