98 
the Mississippi valley States. Some States in this region 
give these species no protection in the spring. The laws 
of Wisconsin, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and 
Ohio, however, now protect plover either partially or 
wholly from spring shooting. 
In regard to legislating against spring duck shooting, 
Massachusetts, in protecting only wood duck, black duck 
and teal, from March 1 to September 1, is now (1904) be- 
hind New Hampshire, Vermont, Ohio, Michigan, Wiscon- 
sin and Minnesota; for these States prohibit all, or nearly 
all, duck shooting during most of the winter and spring 
months. Hew Brunswick prohibits the shooting of wood 
duck, black duck, Brant, teal and geese between Decem- 
ber 2 and September 1. Nova Scotia, however, protects 
only “ blue-winged duck,” teal and wood duck in spring. 
The Province of Quebec protects all wild duck except 
sheldrake in much of her territory from March 1 to Sep- 
tember 1 ; while Ontario sets an example, which we may 
well follow, by protecting all ducks from December 16 to 
September 1. Newfoundland, Maine, Hew Hampshire, 
Hew York and Georgia protect either some or all ducks, 
beginning at a date before April l. 1 With the exception of 
the States named, not any Atlantic Coast State or Gulf State 
protects ducks, except wood duck in Virginia and Louisi- 
ana, before the first of April. 2 If all ducks and shore 
birds which migrate south could be protected there and 
along their routes of migration after the first day of Janu- 
ary, and also throughout the spring and summer , both in 
migration and on their breeding grounds, the diminution in 
their numbers might be checked. If all organizations in- 
terested in the protection of birds or game would work to- 
gether for this end, it might be accomplished. 
The prohibition of the use of bird dogs, if it were possible, 
would undoubtedly save many birds, for some men would 
be unable to find birds were it not for their dogs. But dogs 
will be used as long as birds are shot for sport or market. 
1 Farmers’ Bulletin No. 207, “ Game Laws for 1904,” by T. S. Harvey, Henry Oldys 
and R. S. Williams, Jr., of the Biological Survey, United States Department of Agri- 
culture. 
2 This applies also to certain counties of North Carolina and Alabama. 
