THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 151 
There are many areas in New South Wales that 
should be absolute sanctuaries for the breeding up of 
game birds and wild fowl, the protection of our large 
kangaroos, native bears, and opossums, such as the Reed 
Beds of the Lachlan, where countless thousands of our 
valuable Ibis have their nesting-ground, the Macquarie 
Marshes, many of our inland lakes, all the coastal estuaries 
near Sydney, and the head waters of our coastal rivers. 
In other States and countries private landowners 
have, with Government aid, dedicated such places on 
their estates as sanctuaries, and it is an example that 
could be well followed by some of our wealthy squatters. 
Under proper supervision, both private and Government 
sanctuaries would become the overflow breeding-ground 
for countless thousands of ducks, geese, other waterflowl. 
eame, and birds of all kinds, and game would be as 
plentiful and as valuable source of food supply as our 
fish. 
As regards the game birds, there is no reason why 
this overflow of life, bred out from the protected areas, 
should not be turned into food. No one claims that our 
fish should be protected and not utilised; it is no more 
eruel to shoot or trap game under proper regulations than 
catching fish for food. This is 4 view of the question 
that is often lost sight of by the sentimental bird-lovers 
who, like the followers of Buddha, would take no life. 
forgetting that the absolute protection which they advo- 
cate would result in such an abnormal increase that birds 
and animals would overrun the country as pests or die 
from starvation. 
All persons who shoot wild game for sport or profit 
should pay a license fee to the Government for the right 
to shoot game and fur-bearing animals. A gun license 
might be unpopular, but it is a very fair and equitable 
tax if levied upon shoteuns and sporting rifles (and 
would save many boys from untimely death through, pea 
rifles). An export duty upon all skins and furs would 
bring in a large revenue. The money thus obtained 
would be ample to pay for the supervision of all sanc- 
tuaries and Nature reserves in the State. — 
As vegards Nature reserves, they would not only be 
sanctuaries for birds and animals, but . under proper 
management, would attract .Nature-lovers from: all parts 
of the world, and soon pay for their maintenance, as they 
