70 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



k4 2. Hawks and owls, by the destruction of insects, confer a bene- 

 fit which is much more than an offset for the poultry destroyed by 

 them. 



" 3. Increased duties are imposed upon county officers, for which 

 no additional compensation has been provided. 



"4. In a number of cases county officers have been imposed on, 

 and bounties illegally drawn. 



u 5. It encourages a certain class to follow hunting as a means of 

 livelihood, and to the exclusion of other labor. 



" 6. Self-interest would lead to the destruction of nearly as many 

 of these noxious animals and birds. 



" 7. The repeal of the act will, by the increase of the number of 

 hawks, cause greater destruction of field mice, which destroy large 

 amounts of clover and clover roots each year. 



" 8. The payment of bounties for any purpose is based upon wrong 

 principles, and should be discouraged. 



" The act should not be repealed because 



w ' 1. This being the first year of its action, the total amount paid will 

 be greatly in excess of that of any subsequent year, and owing to 

 the increased scarcity each year, the amount paid will be annually 

 less. 



u 2. By a repeal the good effects of bounties already paid would be 

 practically lost. 



" 3. The destruction of these birds and mammals protects game. 



u 4. All laws are liable to abuse and violation, and this one is no 

 exception to the general rule. 



" 5. The effect of a continuance of the law as it now is will be to 

 increase the production of poultry and decrease its price." 



From letters kindly sent by the commissioners of the several coun- 

 ties hereafter named, I am enabled to show part of the animals on 

 which bounty was paid for a period of some six months, i. e.* from 

 January 1, 1886, to July 1, 1886. From reliable informants I find 

 that the u Scalp Act " was not generally known to be in existence 

 until about January 1, 1886 : 



Allegheny. i u cat " owls. 



Armstrong. 167 hawks ; 49 owls, u also quite an amount for foxes, 

 minks and weasels.' 1 



Adams. " We have paid since the first of October, 1885, to July 3, 

 1886, for 1,716 hawks, 402 owls, or $858.00 for hawks, and $201.00 for 

 owls; total, $1,059.00. The premiums on weasels, minks and foxes 

 are about one-third of the above. A bad feature about the act is the 

 apparent manner in which the counties are imposed upon, in farming 

 hawks, owls, foxes, etc." 



Bucks. 138 hawks ; 16 owls. 



Bradford. Total amount paid for all animals from January 8, 1886, 

 to August 1, 1886, inclusive, $996.00. " One-half for hawks and owls, 

 balance for weasels, minks and foxes." 



Blair. 123 hawks ; 13 owls. 



Beaver. 25 hawks; 12 owls. 



Clarion. 165 hawks ; 20 owls. 

 Centre . 119 hawks ; 26 owls. 

 Cameron. 3 hawks ; 2 owls. 

 Clinton.- 34 hawks ; 8 owls. 



