PART III. 



CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 



The Economic Value of Game Birds, Wild-fowl and 



Shore Birds. 



Game is one of the natural resources of the State. When 

 the game is exterminated a valuable asset is lost. When 

 game is conserved it increases the material wealth of the 

 State, gives value to waste lands, adds to the worth of farm 

 lands, attracts sportsmen to the State and gives employment 

 to many people. 



An abundance of game birds is necessary to the prosperity 

 of many great business interests. A very large part of the 

 business of the gun makers and ammunition manufacturers 

 depends on keeping up a supply of game birds. Makers of 

 other sporting goods and clothing, breeders and trainers of 

 dogs, manufacturers of boats, country hotel keepers, guides, 

 marketmen, and a host of others, are dependent upon sports- 

 men or game for a part of their livelihood. 



The economic value of game birds on the farm is so con- 

 siderable that it is well worthy the attention of all farmers 

 and owners of large tracts of land. The Bob-white ranks high 

 among the most valuable destroyers of insects and weeds (see 

 •page 373). The Heath Hen, the Prairie Chicken, the Upland 

 Plover and the Killdeer Plover, all of which formerly were 

 common in many regions from which they since have been 

 extirpated, or nearly so, rank almost equally high as destroyers 

 of the insects of farm or field. A plentiful supply of such 

 birds would free the fields of many insect pests. Birds also 

 might be made to pay the taxes on the land. It is possible 

 •now for any farmer or association of farmers owning or con- 

 trolling a large tract of land where game birds are plentiful 



