3 



Ho'-'ever, they tell me there are alrea^iy signs that sportsmen will show 

 their sportsmanship instead of the feathered trophies of their marksmanship 

 this fall. Those who had gone over the discouraging reports and witnessed 

 conditions in the marshes seem to agree that it is only hy cutting do'vn on the 

 kill of ducks this fall that we can avert the grave possibilities of a permanent 

 disaster to our waterfowl. It is a question of limiting the number of water- 

 fowl to he killed this season and the next few seasons, rather than having to 

 give up duck-hunting for all time. 



Some of you may recall, a few months back I was what some of you might 

 call "viewing with alarm" the reports of the results of last year's drouglit. 

 In order to meet the situation then, the Biological Survey announced that the 

 open season would be cut down this fall by two weeks. In other words, before 

 the full effects of another year's drought were known, it was already apparent 

 that rather drastic action would have to be talcen to save our ducks and duck- 

 hunting. 



Now on top of that rather discouraging situation, several more months 

 of drought conditions have dried up all hopes for relief and made this a real 

 year of duck disaster. 



lia^'be what ducks are left will find better conditions next year or the 

 next few years* When I was talking to Mr. Lincoln, the officials of the 

 Biological Survey had not decided just what further restrictions on duck hunt- 

 ing would bo necessary. But at that time, some sportsmen already had advised 

 the Bureau tb^t they intended to forego all duck shooting during this coming 

 see.son, and the indications wore that some of the largest duck clubs would not 

 open. Tlaat's real sportsmanship — and good common sense. 



Better let what few ducks you might othenTiso get go back to their 

 breeding grounds in Canada or in this country and raise families. Tlie future 

 of duck hunting depends on those ducks that have survived the drought. If we 

 are to have future years of duck hunting, we might as well remember the old 

 adage — "You can't have your cake and eat it." 



A>n'T0UITC3I.CZITT ; This survey of the duck situation, is presented by Station 



in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. It is one 

 of our regulr.r twice a month visits with Uncle Sam's Naturalists, ^e will 

 have another two weeks from today. 



11 II I! II 



