58 SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO 



the great importance of game protection and the necessity for 

 the preservation of useful wild birds and animals. At the 

 sessions of the legislature when game laws have been introduced 

 the majority of the members usually treat the subject with more 

 or less indifference, and on account of being much more in- 

 terested in other measures, they seldom have time or inclination 

 to seriously and carefully consider the fish and game situation. 

 They do not always understand the actual facts and conditions, 

 and being frequently misinformed the result is that much needed 

 amendments are sidetracked or indefinitely postponed. Occasion- 

 ally at the close of a session, during the turmoil and excitement, 

 a few members who are interested because they hunt and fish 

 themselves or at the persistent solicitation and request of other 

 interested parties, will seize an opportunity and manage to rush 

 through some amendment, which the majority votes for (some of 

 them very reluctantly) to save time and because they find it 

 expedient to do so. 



In spite of the efforts of the State Fish and Game Commissioner 

 and some of his deputy wardens to enforce the present fish, game 

 and bird law, it is admitted to be a failure by most citizens, in- 

 cluding a large number of sportsmen themselves. It seems to be 

 the general opinion that only a few conscientious hunters really 

 comply with the law. 



With these circumstances confronting us, the question naturally 

 arises, what ought to be done to stop this senseless and reck- 

 less destruction of wild life in Texas? One of the first moves 

 should be the passage of a law at the next session of our legis- 

 lature requiring every hunter (young or old) to take out a license. 

 This would prevent to a very large extent the wanton slaughter 

 of both game and non-game birds by the hosts of "sandpiper 

 sportsmen," "pot-hunters," young school boys and other irregular 

 hunters, white and colored, to whose tender mercies the birds 

 are left. It would also provide a fund which could be used to 

 good advantage by the State Fish and Game Commisisoner 

 and which would help to solve one of the perplexing finanical 

 problems connected with the work of his office. A reasonable 

 hunter's license has not only proved a decided success wherever 

 tried, but the good results are so manifest, that the great majority 

 of farmers are strongly in favor of it, and few sportsmen are to 

 be found now who do not favor it. 



There should be a closed season on prairie chicken and antelope 

 for a number of years to come. 



No wild turkeys should be killed in February and March and 



