Notes and Correspondence. 



57 



California Associated Societies for the Conservation of Wild Life. 



There is no recovery of an extinct species; conservation or devastation 

 — which shall it he? 



Common sense demands the regulation of hunting in such a way that 

 our wild life will persist as a permanent asset. 



At a meeting held recently in the rooms of the Sierra Club in the 

 Mills Building an organization was formed which promises to be a pow- 

 erful factor in effecting the protection and propagation of wild life in 

 this State. There were present representatives of the Sierra Club, 

 Tamalpais Conservation Club, State Humane Assocation of California 

 and San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 

 Cooper Ornithological Club, Paleontological Society of the Pacific Coast, 

 California Academy of Sciences, State Fish and Game Commission, Pacific 

 Coast Biological Society, and California State Audubon Society. 



The Cahfornia Associated Societies for the Conservation of Wild Life 

 is the title of the new organization, which is made up of societies and 

 associations throughout the State directly or indirectly interested in the 

 native birds and animals and having an aggregate membership of many 

 thousands. 



Professor W. F. Bade of the Pacific Theological Seminary, Berkeley, 

 and a Director of the Sierra Club, was elected President; Professor 

 W. P. Taylor of the Ornithological Club and Cahfornia Museum of 

 Vertebrate Zoology, Secretary. Others on the Executive Committee are : 

 J. Grinnell, Professor L. L. Burlingame, J. H. Cutter, Matthew Mc- 

 Currie, Bruce Martin, W. Leon Dawson. 



The objects of the organization are to secure by legislation and other 

 practical means the preservation of several species of California birds 

 and mammals which are approaching extinction. Notable among those 

 which the association will seek to protect are the wood duck, land otter, 

 California condor, white-tailed kite, southern sea otter, Columbian sharp- 

 tailed grouse, trumpeter swan, and grizzly bear. These last three are 

 said to be practically extinct. 



The association will proceed at once to draft and prepare for intro- 

 duction at the coming session of the Legislature a number of laws and 

 amendments which will radically change existing statutes in regard to 

 game and other animals. Among the changes which it will attempt to 

 accomplish will be : 



A law prohibiting the sale in California of any American-killed wild 

 game ; 



A law prohibiting the use of automatic "pump" guns and silencers ; 



The abolition of the game districts as at present outlined within the 

 State, and, if necessary, a redistricting according to life zones and faunal 

 areas ; 



A law providing for the establishment of State game refuges ; 

 A law providing for the breeding of game in captivity, and the sale of 

 such game under license. 



