THE GAME BREEDER 107 



ingly easy marks. The size of the birds shot. It is very evident that some land 

 and their toothsome flavor make them is needed where the wild grasses, wild 

 very tempting to those who are not fa- roses, sunflowers, and many other foods 

 miliar with the game laws or do not heed and covers should be permitted to grow, 

 them. Where there are open seasons It must be evident to sportsmen that the 

 some fafmers naturally entertain the farmers will not donate the needed land 

 opinion that it is wise to take the field for such food and cover unless they be 

 early in order to anticipate the town compensated. It is evident they will not 

 gunners who often shoot without per- put in their time controlling the many 

 mission and are considered a nuisance in enemi'es of the grouse so long as the 

 many cases. When there is a rivalry sportsmen claim to own the game and 

 between two classes of gunners as to insist upon the right to destroy it without 

 who shall have such desirable food it is providing any means for its protection 

 not surprising that nature's balance and increase. Dr. Judd pointed out that 

 quickly is upset. The stopping of the the grouse could be restored to Ohio,, 

 sale of grouse may have delayed matters Kentucky and other States where it is ex- 

 a little but it also has made it not worth tinct but where it once was plentiful- 

 while to protect the game properly since Ten years have elapsed however since 

 it cannot be done profitably. We should he wrote his bulletin and practically 

 always bear in mind the statement of the nothing has been done for the very good 

 naturalist, Seaton, that the way to make reason that it does not pay to do anything 

 American game abundant is to commer- in the way of practical propagation or 

 cialize it. in the way of introducing or restoring 



I have reports of the grouse vanish- the game. The laws in fact now make 



ing from places after the laws prohibited it , impossible, to procure stock birds of 



all shooting. It is easy to understand eggs in most places, and Dr. Shufeldt,. 



why this should occur. All birds need no doubt, had these facts in mind when 



their natural foods and all need cover not he said he was opposed to laws protecting 



only at the nesting time but throughout the game off the face of the earth, 

 the year as a protection against their The Game Breeder's enactments which 



natural enemies. When the grouse were already are in the books in some States, 



abundant on the great western prairies, and will be in all we hope soon, will 



prairie grass, wild roses, wild sunflowers make it possible to get stock birds and 



and other plants were abundant. The eggs. The opening of the markets to 



birds had opportunity for concealment the desirable food will make it quite 



and could procure winter foods above the worth while to produce it on many of the 



snow.. On many farms and cattle ranches farms where it no longer occurs and 



the covers and foods have been entirely which are posted against all gunners, 



destroyed and the laws stopping the sale Mackensen, and the other dealers in live 



of the birds and the other destructive game, who advertise in The Game 



enactments cannot possibly make them Breeder, will pay excellent prices for 



plentiful in places where the natural con- grouse and grouse eggs and will be the 



ditions are such that they cannot escape first to sell them. The birds will go to 



' from their natural enemies or secure any people willing to look after them now 



food in the winter. that the laws provide that they can shoot 



It is evident that these birds must be and sell some of the game to help pay ex- 



properly looked after; that some of the penses if they wish to do so. In order 



necessary covers and foods must be re- that sportsmen of small means may form 



stored; that the grouse must not be de- game clubs and have good shooting dur- 



stroyed by fire and flood and farm ma- ing a long open season it is quite neces- 



chinery and by dogs, cats, rats and il- sary they should have the right to sell 



legal gunners and egg gatherers, before both birds and eggs produced by their 



we can restore these splendid food birds industry on the farms where the farmers 



to our markets or ever be able to restore are compensated, 

 them to our list of game which can be It is all important that those willing 



