The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-04
BIRDS DISAPPEAR
Shooting Has Made Great ln-
roads on the Game
Flocks.
SOME ALMOST EXTINCT
Prohibition OF All Spring Shooting
Seems 10 be Real
Need.

All reports indicated that the flight
Of ducks again decreased last fall The
excessive shooting of wild owl must
be regulated by all the New England
States Why should any civilized peo-
pie legaliae the shooting of wild fowl
in spring? 1t would be just as rea-
sonable to allow spring shooting Of
grouse quail and woodcock. What Is
the result Of spring shooting? The
swans and snow geese have almost
disappeared, The edible Wild ducks
have grown fewer year by year until
now he inland ponds and rivers, for
merry swarning with waterfowl, are
almost untenanted by them,
Sixty to seventy years ago green
winged teal were abundant in New
England.
Now they are rare.
Fifty years ago blue-winged teal
were plentiful.
Now they are few.
Forty years ago the wood duck bred
commonly throughout the New Eng
land states.
Now It Is in danger Of extermlna-
ton.
Already most Of tlS states and
Provinces Of North America have
awakened to the necessity of protect
ing wild fowl in spring; but Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island lag far be-
hind the leaders in this movement.
Fully thirty species OF wild fowl that
normally visit these States have prac-
tically no protection under the law.
The statutes are so arranged as to al
low the shooting Of some OF these
birds during every month Of the year
while others are protected only when
they are out Of the state
a limited amount Of fall shooting
would not decrease the numbers of
the birds were they protected for the
\rest Of the Year But shooting in
January and February (Which takes
advantage ot the necessities of the
birds on the icc-bound shoals and
ponds and spring shooting OF mated
or breeding birds inevitably tend to-
ward extinction. Unless the shooting
of all wild fowl from January to Sep
tember, at least is prohibited by law
everywhere the pond and river ducks
Of New England those that are os-
teemed as table delicacies will dsap-
pear and the sportsman will find only
dippers, coots and llsm ducks along
our shores
We're II not that the Canadian Pro-
inces have passed and enforced Laws
prohibiting spring shooting tho day Of
reckoning would have been ut hand
long since Now the breeding pla 2ss
Of the Wild fowl IN Canada are fast
being encroached upon by agriculture
and civilization and we must cither
make It possible for the birds to breed
here In New England or lose a great
part of this source of recreation and
food supply forever.
Wherever spring shooting has been
prohibited by law for a series Of years
the ducks have increased This has
] been true Of even tho most limited
regions. such ms counties islands and
areas comprising only a few farms.
Wild fowls would breed near most 81
tho streams, ponds ana marshes Of
New England if they were not
molested IN spring.
Great numbers Of Wild ducks still
breed in the marshes and fens Of Eng
land under protection. Hundreds ot
thousands Of black ducks wood
ducks. teal whisters and other ducks
should he reared in the New England
states annually An attempt Is nov
making to bring Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island in line with New YORK
Connecticut and the o,he" States
which prohibit the shooting Of ali Wild
fowl in spring
This is q matter OF great interesi ia
the people Of the interior. Every
fall before the Ice locks the streams
and ponds the ducks that breed near
inland waters migrate 10 .he coast r.
gion. Some remain there all winter
| while others 60 south, In the early
sprlng they crowd northward ant
eastward along the coast awaiting the
breaking NJ Of the ica In the psa'
and streams. All this time the shore
gunner takes his toll from the birds
until. when spring opens, few birds
are left to return 20 their breeding
grounds in the interior.
The shore gunner preters to kill
birds in spring for then when a bird
is shot It's mate Is usually an easy
prey When tho ice breaks up and
the few remaining birds return tc
/ their homes in the iaterlo' Trey are
pursued by pot hunters and farmers
bows who can legally shoot ~ ost spe-
cites of wild fowl in spring and there
fore viii shoot anything that comes
within range, Thus 1t is that the WIG
geese, wild ducks looms and greheS
that formerly bred here have beer
driven out and thus has a whole peo-
pie been deprived of its birthright In
the wild fowl Of lake and river
To control and replenish this sup.
ply of birds It is only necessary for tho
states to enact wise uniform laws AMI
then provide the means Of enforcing