The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-04-02
LAST STAND FOR GAME BIRDS.
Diving Breeds to be De Tended Throughout
the Land. Sportsmen Back Audubon
Campaign from State to State.

NEW YORK, March 30. Until all the
mating birds of spring may fly from
their winter homes to the north to rear
their young, safe from the pot shots OF
unsportsmanlke aid market hunters,
national campaign against spring shoot
ing will be carried from State to State,
it was announced here today. Acting
on the protests of sportsmen and the
warning of the Department Of Agri-
culture, the National Association of
Audubon Societies has undertaken to
make last stand for the existence of
the dying races of American game
birds in every State in which shooting
during the breeding season is not for
hidden by law. In Massachusetts, New
Jersey, Rhode Island and Oklahoma a
determined fight is today being carried
on against the commercial interests
which are organized to fight the move
ment.
That the most desperate measures
have beeh taken by the men who butch
er birds for the market to prevent pro-
tective legislation in these States as
we'll AS in the twenty others in which the
law still leaves the game birds easy
prey while breeding, is known today.
Although this market lobby has always
been active in opposing laws which
threatened to curtail their gains in any
particular State, the possibility of such
general protection throughout the
country has aroused them to finance a
widespread and INSCRIPTIONS fight. To
pit against this rich and selfish interest,
the Audubon workers have simply the
normal support of sportsmen and the
general unsel6sh desire of the people
to save the game birds from extinction.
From January first on to a reasonable
open season in the fall is the period in
which protection is to be asked for the
mating birds and their young. In fit
teen States and nine Canadian provinces
the game birds are already shielded by
law during this crucial time. Unless
such measures are taken at once by the
remaining States the government au-
that game shooting in this country will
soon cease to exist and every species
become extinct.
On the legislatures in the Dakotas
Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexi-
co. Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, AT
kansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and
all the Southern States will depend the
life or death of American game when
this matter is brought before them this
wear or next. In each of these States
all the money and influence of the com
mercial bird killers is already at work
for their short-sighted policy of extermi-
mating slaughter for tomorrow's table.
every real true sportsman is behind
us in the fight for the dying game birds
of this country" said William butcher,
president of the association at its head
quarters, al Broadway, today. eve
will make our stand for these game
species just as faithfully as we have
worked for the protection of the non
game birds. If every patriotic citizen
will take his place with us to defend the
birds against rapid extinction, we shall
be equipped to oppose all the selfish IN
terests that money can buy and the
gruesome story Of the wild pigeon, the
heath hen, the Eskimo curlew and the
Carolina paroquet species, exterminated
by the wasteful greed of man. will not
be repeated"