August, 1921 
FOREST AND STREAM 
351 
from time to time threatens to exert a powerful in- 
fluence unlawfully in our political affairs, the 
American, living in our large cities, no less than his 
brother citizen of the broad spaces, will look with 
disfavor upon any move by Congress to take from 
him, or prevent his obtaining, those weapons which 
he and his fathers before him have always had for 
the protection of their homes. 
In every stage and period of American history, 
the American rifle and revolver in the hands of 
Americans has been a recognized implement of law 
and any abridgment of the right of the American 
citizen at this time is a step towards the placing of 
the home and the family at the mercy of the blud- 
geon and dirk. Every law-abiding American 
should place this question squarely before his rep- 
resentative in Congress. We suggest their so do- 
ing without delay. 
MIGRATORY FISH CONSERVATION 
MOT many years ago we had a seemingly inex- 
haustable supply of Atlantic and Pacific sal- 
mon, sturgeon, striped bass, blue fish, white fish 
of the Great Lakes, and other species, together 
with the food fish needed by those species. Now, 
for all practical purposes, the Atlantic salmon and 
the sturgeon have gone and all others have greatly 
decreased in numbers and are growing fewer. Un- 
less radical action to preserve our fish is taken in 
the immediate future, this country will find itself 
facing the problem of trying to restore a natural 
resource of vast importance which has already 
been lost. 
Common sense and a little foresight would have 
continued this resource for all time, and it is the 
American people throughout the entire land who 
must demand that the present conditions cease. 
At the Seventh Annual Convention of the Ameri- 
can Game Protective Association, a committee was 
formed to be known as the Migratory Fish Conser- 
vation Committee. 
The call is for a Federal fish law which shall 
provide equally for all proper liberty for present 
fishing and for a rational regard for the fishing of 
the future. 
What protection Our fish have had in the past 
has been through State legislation. This has proved 
wholly inadequate, for the selfish present interests 
of commercial fishermen have ruled the leg- 
islation of many States. Too often the com- 
mercial fisherman is concerned with the pres- 
ent profit of this day, this week, this month, 
and this year, and thinks neither of the public nor 
of the more or less remote future. Thus, on the 
one side of this issue will be ranged the fish-con- 
suming public, the sportsmen, and the commercial 
fisherman whose interest is not wholly for imme- 
diate gain; while, on the other side, opposed to 
this movement, will surely be found the selfish in- 
terests which are careless of the public and care- 
less of the rights of the fishermen of the future. 
A certain amount of money is needed for this 
campaign of publicity. You can help those who 
are giving their time and money to this work by a 
contribution sent to any member of the campaign 
committee, or to its treasurer, Joseph P. Howe, 233 
Broadway, New York. But far more important 
than money is the giving of your thought, your in- 
terest and your influence, so that the whole people 
may be aroused to its importance. 
NEW COUNTRY FOR SPORTSMEN 
A MERICAN sportsmen are forming an organiza- 
tion which will make accessible to the public 
the famous Conejos Lakes region of the Rio Grande 
National Forest, Colorado, according to informa- 
tion received by the United States Department of 
Agriculture. This area with its wonderful scenic 
beauty, its primeval forests, its trout streams, lies 
in the southern part of the State near the New 
Mexico line, a day’s journey by train from Denver. 
Many square miles of beautiful forests and more 
than 100 lakes are included in its boundaries. Few 
places are more richly endowed by nature, or offer 
greater recreational advantages. 
The new association plans to keep the tract un- 
spoiled, but will erect rustic log cabins and chalets 
to accommodate those who desire a vacation “off 
the beaten paths.” The plan is to co-operate with 
the United States Forest Service and the State 
Fish and Game Commission in preserving the nat- 
ural beauty of the forest, and its animal life. 
FOREST FIRES 
r T'HE protection of the forests of our country 
* against fire and indiscriminate cutting is a 
matter of large importance to every sportsman and 
lover of the great outdoors. Without forests there 
would be no hunting or fishing, and desolation 
would mark what are now nature’s beauty spots. 
Fire protection is the solution of two-thirds of 
the problem, and in this is to be found a splendid 
opportunity for service to the nation by every pub- 
lic-spirited citizen. 
MAINE WOODS 
C 1 OR those who are making their vacation plans 
this year a book entitled “In the Maine Woods,” 
issued by George M. Houghton, general passenger 
agent of the Bangor & Aroostock Railroad, is of 
especial interest. It contains a large map in col- 
ors, showing all the camps, rivers, lakes, moun- 
tains and points of interest, and gives routes. 
Included in the book are a score or more short 
stories on hunting, fishing, conoeing, mountain 
climbing and the like, written by men and women 
who have found some special charm in the great 
country known as “The Nation’s Playground.” 
CLAY BIRDS AT MONTE CARLO 
IT is rumored that pigeon shooting is to be abol- 
1 ished at Monte Carlo, and that the directors have 
decided to install a complete equipment of Amer- 
ican clay bird traps on the grounds that were for- 
merly used for live bird matches. 
There was a time when the outcome of the 
matches that were held on this picturesque promin- 
tory were of considerable interest to American 
sportsmen, but that was before the clay saucer 
came into its own and the sport alluring became a 
national pastime. 
GAME BIRD NESTS 
yXT E have received this season an unusual num- 
v ber of reports of game birds, quail, partridge 
and prairie chickens nesting in exposed positions 
within settled communities or close to roads and 
paths that are used by pedestrians and automo- 
biles. Is it because they have found that human 
beings are less to be dreaded than their enemies? 
