590 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



is interested in the protection of game stands always ready 

 to lend a helping hand in their enforcement. 



This condition can be brought about only by constant, 

 perpetual agitation and educational work, such as the Audu- 

 bon Societies are carrying on. In the meantime it should be 

 the aim of the game protective associations and game com- 

 missioners to initiate and advocate the propagation of game 

 and the establishment of game farms and reservations, not 

 alone for shooting purposes, but for the general increase of 

 the game of the land. When we have, in addition to the force 

 of game wardens in America, a hundred thousand gamekeepers, 

 game will be far more plentiful than now and the laws will be 

 far better observed. 



Federal Supervision of the Protection of Migratory Birds. 



Next to prohibiting the sale of wild game, this is the most 

 important step to be taken. The Bureau of Biological Sur- 

 vey, which now has charge of federal game protection, should 

 be given the power to regulate open and close seasons for 

 migratory birds, and to make such other regulations for their 

 protection as may be deemed necessary from time to time. 

 The personnel of the Bureau is in a position to know the con- 

 dition of the game throughout the country, to determine the 

 amount and kind of protection necessary, to make regula- 

 tions calculated to preserve and increase migratory game 

 birds, and to co-operate with other American governments 

 for the enforcement of needed regulations in the two American 

 continents. 



It is proper for each State to regulate the killing of resi- 

 dent birds, such as the Ruffed Grouse and the Bob-white, 

 which pass their lives within its borders. All the conditions 

 regarding these birds may be ascertained by the State authori- 

 ties, and the State government advisedly may take measures 

 for their protection. How different is the case of migratory 

 birds ! 



As the matter stands now, the States, and, in some cases, 

 the counties within the States, have laws and regulations differ- 

 ing so widely that a species that is protected at all times in 



