184 



THE GAME BREEDER 



in the game bag in New Jersey during 

 the last season than in any shooting 

 season in many years, but the cry has 

 gone up all over the state for "more rab- 

 bits." Cotton-tails have shown they are 

 the most popular of the small upland 

 game, and the New Jersey Fish and 

 Game Commission purposes to rise to 

 the demand. 



The rabbit warrens in the State Game 

 Farm have taken on new importance, 

 and will be one of the largest features 

 of the propagation work. Three thou- 

 sand rabbits were purchased in New 

 Mexico and many have been received in 



good condition at the game farm. 



^ 



Good News From Rhode Island. 



Editor of The Game Breeder: 



The following is from the annual re- 

 port of the Bird Commissioners of 

 Rhode Island. Its recognition of Game 

 Breeding as one of the best means of 

 replenishing the supply of upland game 

 birds so as to give future opportunities 

 for sport in this state, is interesting. 

 Very truly and fraternally yours, 



Providence, R. I. W. McNeilis. 

 Associate Editor Rod and Gun Corner, of 

 the Providence Tribune. 



After telling of the alarming scarcity 

 of quail and partridge noted during the 

 past hunting season, the report suggests 

 methods of improving the situation as 

 follows : 



"The time has come when we can no 

 longer depend on natural conditions to 

 replenish the exhausted supply of wild 

 game, to say nothing of restoring its 

 former abundance. The only solution 

 of this problem is by artificial propaga- 

 tion. The changed conditions must be 

 met by new methods." 



The report then mentions one method, 

 game sanctuaries in which the activities 

 of predatory animals are prevented, and 

 "while this state has not the area to 

 establish large reservations, something 

 could be done in this direction if suit- 

 able legal action could be secured." 



The report continues: "Besides this 

 means of propagating game there is the 

 method of intensive rearing of wild birds 

 and other game such as domestic ani- 

 mals are raised. V?rv successful experi- 



ments have been carried on in other 

 states which show that with proper 

 knowledge and skill wild birds may be 

 raised in large numbers. None of this 

 work has been undertaken in this state 

 for the reason that our laws do not per- 

 mit it. Possession of game during the 

 breeding season is strictly prohibited. It 

 is, therefore, impossible for any person 

 in this state to make an effort to in- 

 crease the supply of game by artificial 

 means, and this applies to the commis- 

 sioners as well as to other citizens. It 

 would be very desirable if suitable laws 

 could be enacted which would authorize 

 the breeding of game. Other states have 

 such laws and excellent results have fol- 

 lowed. It would be necessary to sur- 

 round such permission with sufficient re- 

 strictions and safeguards to prevent- its 

 abuse." 



The commissioners are now little more 

 than a special police organization for the 

 enforcement of game laws. The enact- 

 ment of these laws would enable them 

 also to become conservators and propa- 

 gators of game. We recommend that 

 these laws be enacted to give the com- 

 missioners of birds, either by their own 

 work or by the issuing of permits to 

 citizens of the state, to engage in the 

 rearing of game animals, both birds and 



other species. 



• — 



A number of our members have shown 

 an interest in the breeding of prairie 

 grouse and sharp-tails and these birds 

 and their eggs should be sold by the deal- 

 ers before long. There is more money 

 to be made in a good grouse ranch than 

 in any other branch of the game breed- 

 ers' industry. The birds can be reared 

 much cheaper than pheasants can be and 

 both birds and eggs will sell readily in 

 large lots at better prices than can be 

 obtained for pheasants and their eggs, 

 although these prices are higher than 

 was ever before known. 



Time Wasted. 



"Dinah, did you wash the fish before 

 you baked it?" 



"Law, ma'am, what's de use ob wash- 

 in' er fish what's lived all his life in de 

 water?"— Philadelphia Leader. 



