CONSERVATION OF GAME BIRDS. 511 



Rats, 



Raccoons, 



Lack of restocking. 



Weasels, . 



Snakes, 



Hedgehogs, 



Telegraph wires. 



Intestinal worms, . 



The chief causes of the decrease of game are market hunt- 

 ing, spring shooting, the sale and export of game, overshooting 

 generally and the destruction of the breeding places of birds 

 by settlement, agriculture and lumbering. 



All these destructive influences have been augmented by 

 the great improvements in firearms, and their cheapness. The 

 improvement and extension of means of transportation have 

 widened considerably the activities of the gunner. Steamboat 

 lines, railroads, electric cars and automobiles are tremendous 

 factors in the destruction of game. The extension of the 

 rail service and of the telephone and telegraph, combined with 

 sportsmen's journals as a medium of advertising, have opened 

 up the whole country, so that the gunner can get information 

 from all parts of it and follow the game wherever it appears. 

 Most settlers, many lumbermen and some farmers live more 

 or less upon game. 



Lumbering has had considerable effect in decreasing the 

 Ruffed Grouse, by removing the cover and winter shelter 

 afforded by the pines. The portable steam sawmill has cut 

 away much of this cover in Massachusetts, to the great detri- 

 ment of the birds. Some of the destructive influences are 

 important enough to be considered in detail. 



Market Hunting. 



There is nothing more destructive to wild game of any kind 

 than hunting, netting, trapping or snaring for the market. 

 The skin, plume, feather, egg and meat markets are very 

 largely responsible for the depletion and extirpation of birds. 

 The high price paid for any game bird to-day is equivalent to 

 a bounty on its head. We might as well offer bounties for the 



