106 
1903-04 many farmers had their young fruit trees ruined 
by the mice, which ate away the bark. If this continues, 
a demand for the protection of hawks and owls is sure to 
come. The placing of a bounty on the few injurious species 
of hawks has been proposed. Ho such measure should be 
enacted, for it would result in the increased killing of all 
hawks. Moreover, our present law, allowing the destruction 
of all hawks and owls, is in this respect wrong, and should 
be modified. 1 
Control of the Cat. — As it is almost universally admitted 
that the cat is one of the greatest enemies of birds, many 
suggestions have been offered in regard to controlling the 
pest. The law which prohibits a man from killing certain 
birds at all times does not prohibit him from keeping any 
number of cats, and allowing them to run at large, not 
only killing these same birds, but torturing them as well. 
In this respect our game laws and bird laws are farcical. 
But what remedy shall we provide ? The cat license finds 
the most advocates. If a license fee of two dollars or more 
were demanded for each cat, and a penalty provided for 
failure to comply with the law, the number of cats would 
soon be reduced. This would be a distinct advantage. 
Every man, however, would have to be a self-appointed 
officer to kill all unlicensed cats, while the licensed cats, 
being protected by law, would continue to roam the fields and 
woods with impunity, killing far more birds than licensed 
dogs do now. With cats unlicensed and in too many cases 
uncared for, as at present, every sportsman or gunner who 
is out after game should shoot every cat he sees running 
at large in the woods. A box trap baited with catnip will 
capture a large number of cats in the course of a year. 
This protective device is used by breeders of pheasants and 
by poultrymen. Ho cat should be allowed to run at large 
in the nesting season unless it has been taught not to kill 
birds. When a cat kills a bird the dead body should be tied 
securely about the cat’s neck, beneath the throat, and kept 
1 In 1907 a law was passed protecting certain hawks and owls at all times. (See 
page 115.) 
