THE GAME BREEDER 45 



pointed out long ago that shooting was a the markets are overstocked, and always 



factor in inducing production. the prices are surprisingly small. The 



The Secretary of Agriculture now has reason is that sport pays a part of the 



full power to permit the trapping of all cost of production. Game always is so 



species of wild fowl for breeding pur- plentiful that wildfowlers, or market 



poses and the taking of eggs for propa- gunners as we say, are permitted to shoot 



gation. Already he has made a most and sell all the wild fowl they can from 



liberal regulation providing for simple public waters and saltings, 



permits to take any number of eggs or The game has vanished rapidly from 



birds and permitting their sale for prop- agricultural regions because it does not 



agation purposes. The regulations fur- pay to have it on the farms. In every 



ther provide that those who obtain breed- country excepting America it is a farm 



ing stock and eggs may sell the birds asset. It seems almost amusing to think 



they produce in the markets as food. that sport has claimed to own the game 



Every one knows that the prices of on the farms which it does not own, and 



game are high and the result of high the reason for the disaster to wild crea- 



prices usually results in a liberal and tures where no one looks after them 



often in an overproduction. The mak- properly is evident. The game has been 



ing of game contraband in the markets actually exterminated on the vast areas 



was a poor way to cause an abundance, in the agricultural regions. The owners 



The liberal policy of permitting every of farms have drained the wet places 



one to obtain breeding stocks and eggs putting an end to the ducks, and by the 



which has been adopted by the Secre- close tillage of fields and the pasturing 



tary of Agriculture should result in a ' of cattle, the lands have been made un- 



great stimulus to the game breeding in- safe and uninhabitable for upland game, 



dustry, which has made an excellent In some States the few remaining quail 



start notwithstanding the many legal have been classed as song birds and they 



obstacles which were created in the ef- are protected by law for terms of years 



fort to preserve and protect the wild or forever. The important matter from 



game which is said to belong to the an economic point of view is that in 



State because it has no other owner. countries where the game laws are 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam, who was the founded on scientific principles, good: 



distinguished head of the United States business sense and a due regard for the 



Bureau of Biological Survey for many natural laws governing the increase and 



years, in a letter to the writer said there decrease of species, the game becomes 



were large areas in the United States quickly a great food supply for all of the 



suitable for game breeding and strongly people who are said to own it. Instead 



endorsed the idea that the production of the shooting being only for the rich, 



of game should be encouraged and not as those say who wish to excite preju- 



prevented by laws. It is largely due to dice, it is well known that the market 



The Independent that a great legal re- gunners can shoot, trap and sell game 



form has been accomplished and that with as much freedom as our fishermen 



the production of valuable foods has catch and sell fish. The market gunners 



been permitted by the States and now is and poorer classes of sportsmen who 



to be encouraged in a large way by the wish to sell game, the owners of country 



National Government. places, the farmers big and small all 



The game farms in the older coun- contribute, each from his proper place, 



tries keep the shooting clubs and syndi- to send the food to the markets where 



cates and the owners of country places the poor as well as the rich can procure 



well supplied with live game when any !t vel T cheaply. 



shortage occurs or when it is desired A glance at the map of any State indi- 



to increase the supply. So much game cates that there are numerous places, 



is produced on the country estates and suitable for the breeding of wild fowl 



on the farms big and small that often and other game, many of which are not 



