112 



THE GAME BREEDER 



THE WORK OF LAST YEAR. 



By the Editor. 



Game breeding made rapid strides 

 during the past year. It is now legal to 

 breed all or certain species of game 

 profitably in thirty-five states. Last year 

 reports to our game census indicated 

 that members of the Game Conserva- 

 tion Society owned nearly one hundred 

 thousand game birds and many elk and 

 deer. 



Preliminary reports coming to the So- 

 ciety, this year, indicate that there are 

 over a million game birds in the hands 

 of breeders and that hundreds of thous- 

 ands of eggs and birds were sold for 

 propagation purposes during the year. 



Many game birds have been market- 

 ed as food at excellent prices and the 

 numerous inquiries which come to the 

 Society indicate there will be several 

 times as. many breeders engaged in the 

 new industry as there were last year. 

 We predict that millions of eggs and 

 birds will be sold during this year 

 (1917). 



Those who introduced the words, "in 

 captivity" in some of the game breeders' 

 laws which have been enacted now agree 

 with us that it is wise to omit these 

 words and to have the statutes read that 

 game reared by industry on enclosed 

 farms and preserves shall be deemed to 

 be the property of those who produce it. 



The importation of quail from Mexi- 

 co was permitted beginning November 

 13, and reports coming to our Society 

 indicate that many thousands of quail 

 will be imported. 



CaUfornia decided to abandon the 

 breeding of game on its state farm and 

 to sell all of the stock birds to game 

 breeders. This state soon will become 

 one of the biggest game producing 

 states in the Union. 



A remarkable convention or treaty 

 between the United States was secured 

 by The American Game Protective As- 

 sociation, aided by the Audubon Asso- 

 ciation and by the prince of game law 



enthusiasts, Doctor Hornaday, the 

 Superintendent of the New York Zoo. 

 Reports coming to the Society indicate 

 that the last-named should be giVen 

 much credit for this great convention, 

 which long will be known as the game 

 law de luxe of the civilized world. It 

 is to be hoped that the migratory birds 

 will be benefited as fully as the promot- 

 ers of this measure believe they will be. 



The migratory bird law which pre- 

 ceded the treaty was spread out into a 

 wonderful lot of restrictions, creating 

 fanciful crimes in various parts of the 

 country which did not meet our ap- 

 proval, since no provision was made to 

 keep them oflf of the game farms when 

 they might be used to prevent the game 

 breeders' industry. We have been as- 

 sured, however, that these restrictions 

 will not be used to prevent the increase 

 of game as similar restrictions in the 

 state laws were and we are well pleased 

 to see any new laws intended to save the 

 wild game given a trial, provided they 

 do not affect the members of The Game 

 Conservation Society. 



A law was enacted opening the New 

 York markets to game produced by in- 

 dustry in other states but the fanciful 

 safeguards imposed at the suggestion of 

 those who are always looking for imag- 

 inary difficulties, have made the law of 

 little value and it is regarded as one 

 more legal absurdity by the breeders in 

 other states. 



Many states now permit the profit- 

 able breeding and shooting of quail, 

 grouse and all other game birds and the 

 sportsmen in some states have plenty 

 of desirable game. 



At a game dinner in the West, grouse, 

 quail, pheasants, partridges and other 

 game were listed on an attractive menu 

 sent to The Game Breeder and the ex- 

 cellent laws which permit the breeding, 

 sale and eating of all species of game 

 {Continued on page J34.) 



