March 12, 1910.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
417 
Duck Season Closes. 
Los Angeles, Cal., Feb. 23. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: Our duck season is all over. In 
a way the shooting was good, but it was not the 
continuous sport we have been accustomed to, 
and the class of birds killed was decidedly in¬ 
ferior to the average. 
Sprigs, which were scarce until February, ap¬ 
peared in considerable force with the current 
month and were in better condition than the 
local food supply would warrant. 
Cinnamon teal came up in considerable force 
during the last two weeks and were very gen¬ 
erally paired. This, indeed, was true of most of 
the ducks. Spoonbills were not very plentiful 
relatively, but teal were, and although small 
flocks were to be seen, these showed little ten¬ 
dency to pack, but were rather aggregations of 
pairs. Were they given as good protection in 
ment has the legal authority and scope neces¬ 
sary so to do. 
Among the things that might be accomplished 
by such an association are the awakening of in¬ 
terest by drawing together the army of wild- 
fowlers, and showing collectively their strength 
and influence; the securing of Federal legisla¬ 
tion upon protecting the breeding fowl in the 
far north from the depredations of egg and 
other hunters in which Canada, with her splen¬ 
did constabulary, the Northwest Police, undoubt¬ 
edly would co-operate; the securing of uniform 
game laws in all sections of the country where 
conditions are similar without distinctions in 
place of differences. We must come to this, and 
the individual efforts of the sportsmen will be 
unavailing. Collectively, what a solid front could 
be advanced against market shooting in all its 
forms and ramifications. The principle that 
game, as an object of the chase, is worth more 
The Winter in Pennsylvania. 
Auburn, Pa., March 1 .—Editor Forest and 
Stream: The winter now drawing to a close 
has been one of exceptional severity. Steady 
cold weather, with heavy and frequent snow¬ 
falls, has been the rule. A record kept at Mont¬ 
rose shows ten feet of snow has fallen since 
Christmas, and thirty-six inches of ice that 
covers Elk Lake. 
We hope the game has not suffered materially. 
An unusual number of rabbits remained at the 
close of the season and are still very much in 
evidence everywhere. Never before have we 
seen so much of their cuttings as for the past 
two weeks. They seem to be feeding on nearly 
everything in the line of brush and brambles, 
even coming into yards and gardens and feed¬ 
ing on the rose bushes. Every seedling apple 
tree along brush row and fence is wholly de- 
‘c 
. 
HUNTING BEAR IN VERMONT. 
WARDEN HARRY CHASE AND DON, HIS FAVORITE ASSISTANT. 
From; photographs by A. R. Rickert. 
the other breeding grounds far north as here 
on the duck clubs during the summer, I for one 
would worry much less about the future supply. 
It is the egg hunters and other marauders that 
only the Federal Government can reach that 
work the lasting havoc where it hurts. So long 
as this goes on our bag limits, stoppage of spring 
shooting, short seasons and even the abolition 
of market hunting are only steps in the right 
direction, and a form of self-denial that bene¬ 
fits the lawbreaker most of all. 
It seems to me that it is about time we had 
a national association of duck shooters to take 
up seriously the work of securing Federal pro¬ 
tection for our waterfowl. They need it; there 
can be no doubt in any thinking man’s mind 
about that unless he judges entirely by some 
comparatively small and particularly favored 
section such as our Southern California. Here 
fresh water, rest and food combine to make a 
great resort of migratory waterfowl. To judge 
by the local supply in most years, all would seem 
well enough, but I have noticed a greater de¬ 
crease than the scattering over ten times as 
many ponds and before ten times as many club 
gunners would warrant in a single decade. 
Something must be done that will be far-reach¬ 
ing in its effect; something of national scope 
that will be handled as only the Federal Govern- 
than on the market slab, might then be forced 
home. Penalties, in fact, as well as in name, 
would make men think before engaging in illicit 
game traffic, whether in flesh, feathers or eggs. 
Space forbids more than brief sketching of the 
field that opens to such an organization as this 
well might be made. With representatives from 
Maine, Massachusetts, Long Island, Barnegat, 
Delaware and Chesapeake bays, Currituck, Albe¬ 
marle, Florida and the Gulf Coast to Texas, the 
entire Mississippi Valley from Louisiana to the 
headwaters of the Ohio, Missouri and all other 
tributaries; from the prairies, the Rockies and 
the Pacific Coast north and south, it seems to 
me a consensus of expert opinion could be drawn 
together that would assure the full wisdom and 
adaptability of any measures recommended, and 
they would be passed upon by a body of men 
who are as expert in their lines as any the Gov¬ 
ernment can summon in any branches of its en¬ 
deavor. Agreement upon measures for the com¬ 
mon good could be attained, for all States have 
shown a willingness to sacrifice to that end. 
Speed the day when this dream may become a 
reality. Then, and not until then, will the future 
of the migratory waterfowl in this country be¬ 
come safe; then will the sport of coming gener¬ 
ations be assured. 
Edwin L. Hedderly. 
nuded of bark and small branches to a height 
that it would seem impossible for bunny to 
reach. 
Grouse were very scarce last fall. They were 
not much hunted, and but a small percentage 
of the birds the covers actually contained were 
killed. The land hereabouts was mostly posted 
by its owners and that afforded them much pro¬ 
tection. 
I cannot account for the very small increase, 
if any, in the number of grouse the past sea¬ 
son. A piece of cover owned by me contained 
last spring at least twelve strong, healthy birds. 
I allowed a party of friends to hunt it on Nov. 
4, and seven or eight birds were all they found. 
Gray squirrels were unusually plentiful last 
fall; good bags were made by all who found 
time to hunt them, and there have been some 
around all winter. 
Quail are practically extinct in this locality. 
I saw but three last fall and heard of no more 
being seen. Am glad to report that the three 
birds seen—two hens and one cock—escaped the 
gunners and are still alive and are wintering a 
half mile from my place. I saw Thursday last 
where they had been feeding on bittersweet ber¬ 
ries. May their lives be spared, and may their 
tribe increase. 
Bon Ami. 
