The United States 173 
instituted for the purpose of acquiring 
places of natural beauty or historic 
interest. Hitherto a great many such 
National Parks have been reserved,and 
there is a local committee for each one. 
In 1899, about 3,000 acres of land were 
set aside on Wachusett Mountain as 
a State Reservation, and the com- 
missioners in charge were given police 
powers. This should ensure a per- 
manent game sanctuary for Worcester 
County. The enactment of 1907, by 
which the Commissioners on Fisheries 
and Game were empowered to take 
1,000 acres of land on Martha's Vine- 
yard as a reservation for the protection 
of the heath hen and other birds, is an 
example of direct legislation for this 
purpose, more of which will become 
necessary \ 
1 Forbush, E. H. Statutory Bird Protection in 
Massachusetts. Bulletin of Massachusetts State 
Board of Agriculture, 1907. 
