FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



267 



Most gunners who have fairly considered the subject will agree, I think, that if we 

 are to continue to have any snipe shooting, the season in all the States should close 

 January first. In the northern States this would mean that snipe shooting, like that of 

 other game birds, should be confined to the autumn months, and that when they 

 arrive in spring and are already mated the birds should not be disturbed, but allowed 

 to continue their journey unmolested, or to breed with us. The faith in the necessity 

 of putting an end to spring shooting, if we are to continue to have any snipe or wild 

 fowl, is growing slowly, and will before long become general, and until this further 

 limit is set on the use of the gun, ducks and snipe will continue to diminish in 

 numbers. Perhaps nine-tenths of the shooting done to-day is at inanimate targets, 

 and unless some earnest steps are taken to preserve our game birds, those who care 

 only for field shooting may have to put away their guns for all time. 



SNIPE BOG. 



