The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FoRMARKer
Some Changes in Laws Needed to
Make Business Profitable.

Make Business Profitable.
During the latter part Of the last
century several species of pheasant
were introduced into this country
from Asia They were first prOpagat.
ed and liberated on the Pacific coast.
The ring-necked pheasant became ac-
climated there and was afterwards in
troduced here, but the attempts to ac-
climatic the birds in New England
have not been so successful. The
Fish and Game commissioners OF Mas
.sachusets have been breeding and dis
ributng pheasants for a dozen years
rhey have liberated about five thous
and birds Nevertheless, the birds
have never become common. except
In limited localities. and they were
practically wiped out by gunners dur
ing The first open season except where
they were protected by posted lands
They have increased only where no
shooting is allowed and where they
are reared and fed on private pres
erves or on the public reservation
near the former state aviary. These
birds thrive on the Pacific coast be
cause of the open winters; but the ex-
pertinent OF liberating them in New
England. except in the most favored
southern portion is foredoomed to fail
IRE. If we wait for the ring necked
pheasants TO populate New England
by their unaided increase in state OF
nature, we shall never live to see that
happy contamination.
The pheasants We're imported for
pecific purpose-that we might have
them to kill and eat to take the place
of our fast decreasing native game
birds We have failed miserably so
far in our attempt, for we are getting
neither sport nor meat If we expect
to be successful in producing large
numbers OF pheasants We must en-
courage private ownership and propa-
cation by allowing the sale of the
birds. Under this system the country
has been populated with pheasants in
England since the time Of the Roman
Conquest and II is the only system
that will succeed here.
II we make the legal sale and shoot
ing OF pheasants by the owner and
propagation we shall soon have sup
ply OF birds for our markets, Every
nan who undertakes to propagate
pheasants will lose a part of the birds
that he raises, and the birds that thus
escape will stock the country. Thus
artificial propagation and the winter
feeding of birds by their owners will
solve the pheasant question.
There Is no reason why full grown
pheasants should not be sold in the
market They cannot be mistaken for
any of our native game birds If the
sale of pheasants were allowed they
would bring good price and would
take the place, In the market, of the
native game birds that are now sold
illegally. II people could lawfully buy
and sell pheasants they would not
care to take the risk they now must
assume if they engage in the illegal
traffic In native game. The high price
that pheasants will bring in the mar
Set will be sufficient incentive to start
the new industry.
All that Is needed is an act legal
l2ing the sale of the birds. There
might be an open season on pheasant'
for the general public, which woulC
allow the killing Of the birds on un
posted lands, and this would proven
too rapid increase of the birds anC
also prevent their replacing or driy
ing out our native game birds. Thu
the propagation and sale of pheasant
would eventually prove protection
to our native birds.
Edward Howe Forbush
Now England Agent, National Associa
} lion of Audubon Societies