44 



THE GAME BREEDER 



scarcity of birds so far as Nature is con- 

 cerned. Disease naturally suggests itself, 

 for grouse of all kinds have become 

 scarce on the continent, and it is evident 

 that their reduction in numbers is due, 

 in large measure, to a common cause or 

 combination of causes. Epidemics are 

 known to attack different species when 

 abnormal overproduction upsets the laws 

 which govern the true balance of Nature. 

 We have a comm.on and constantly re- 

 curring example of this in the periodical 

 increase and decrease of the varying 

 hare, or "bush rabbit" as it is more com- 

 monly called. In Europe and Great 

 Britain, where most game is artificially 

 raised on preserves, this same fact is 

 thoroughly understood, and overproduc- 

 tion is carefully guarded against. But 

 to apply this theory by way of explana- 

 tion to our ever-decreasing grouse, is 

 merely to enter the field of useless argu- 

 ment. It is well known that none of the 

 native game birds are nearly as plentiful 

 on this continent as in the earliest days 

 of settlement ; and though we are told of, 

 or remember, "off years" when this or 

 that species became temporarily scarce 

 from natural causes, we also know that 

 never in the memory of the oldest inhabi- 

 tant did the prairie chicken decrease to 

 such a low point as is the case at pres- 



ent. To suggest the possibility of an 

 epidemic of disease from other causes 

 than overproduction is to conjure up the 

 improbable. 



Among all of the more common species 

 of mammals and birds, to say nothing of 

 insects. Nature has provided that there 

 shall be an over-abundant natural repro- 

 duction. This is an infallible law and 

 one absolutely essential to the perpetu- 

 ation of most species. The reason for 

 this is readily apparent. The ratio of 

 destruction, by natural means, must be 

 overcome by a corresponding ratio of 

 increase, or, failing in this, the species 

 will become abnormally scarce or prac- 

 tically non-existent. If a species is 

 known to reproduce at a high rate an- 

 nually and yet does not show a resultant 

 general increase in numbers as time goes 

 on, and its numbers remain about sta- 

 tionary, then the ratio of destruction in 

 that species is merely counterbalanced 

 by its reproducing powers. Thus does 

 Nature maintain her true balance. 

 Working from this hypothesis, we can 

 say conclusively that the ratio of destruc- 

 tion among the grouse of America has 

 been, of late, far in excess of their 

 powers of reproduction, and that Na- 

 ture's balance has been upset in such a 

 way as to bring several species to a low 

 ebb. 



NOTES FROM THE STATE GAME DEPARTMENTS. 



We published reports from a number 

 of State game officers last month, most 

 of whom believe that game breeding and 

 the sale of game produced by industry 

 should be encouraged and not prevented 

 by law. Rapidly all.of the State game 

 officers are adopting the idea that food 

 birds should not be placed in the song 

 bird list and that the departments should 

 be of economic importance; that field 

 sports should not be prohibited. 



Where a little game breeding is en- 

 couraged in various parts of a State the 

 necessity for close seasons quickly disap- 

 pears as it did on Long Island, N. Y., 

 where recently the State game officer 



(who has the right to declare a closed 

 season and to put both the shooters and 

 the food produceis out of business) 

 when appealed to by the enemies of sport 

 to do this decided that it was not neces- 

 sary or proper to close the shooting. 

 This is true because the quail clubs keep 

 the birds plentiful. All of the sportsmen 

 in the State can go to Long Island and be 

 sure of finding quail. 



When all the patriotic State officers be- 

 come fully aware that by encouraging 

 game breeding by all who wish to go into 

 the industry they will put an end to the 

 necessity for closed seasons and that 

 every one will find better shooting than 



