New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
That Is to Say, the Wild Ones
Have, for Several States
Plan to Protect Them
Against Hunters.

-Y an odd turn OF events. the turkeys
- are themselves entitled 10 a Thanks
- giving this year They have been
newly placed on the list OF game birds Dy
the LEGISLATURE of Massachusetts, and ID
future will not be allowed 70 be shot at any
season in that state.
This seems the more remarkable. because
the fowls thus protected by law are wild
turkevs. and there are none such in any
mart of New England AT the present time.
But explanation of the matter lies in the
fact that they are now being introduced IN
considerable numbers into Massachusetts
with a view 10 breeding them under condi-
tions of semi-domesucation
The same sort Of experiment is being
made in California. and also in New York
state. where the Game Breeders Associa-
ton (an influential and wealthy organiza-
tion OF public spirited mem. is already rais-
ing wild turkeys on a considerable scale
on its breeding farms, some hundreds OF
the birds having been trapped in Virginia
and the Carolinas for the purpose. When
as is expected. the New York Legislature
grants them the requisite protection against
pot-hunters they will be allowed TO slnit
for themselves. the prospect being that
they will again become, as Of yore, the
denizens Of such woodlands as may a1ord
them the seclusion they demand
II was declared recently by the Govern
ment Biological Survey that the only posi-
bic salvation of the wild turkey lay in ITS
partial domestication In early Colonial
days birds Of this species were very numer-
ous in Massachusetts, and so tame that
focks Of them were frequently seen in the
neighborhood of settlers houses. They have
been extinct in New England for more than
half a century. and IN other parts OF the
country they have become so wild as 10 be
hard 10 shoot But this is merely a con-
sequence OF the relentless warfare waged
upon them by hungry man. They are not
by nature particularly shy, and, IN the
opinion OF the experts il would not be DIM
cult to propagate them under conditions OF
stication-protecting them, that
is 10 say. and helping out their food supply
70 Whatever extent might be necessary,
while interfering with their liberty as little
az possible.
II is not easy 10 realize that a century
ago wild turkeys were so abundant over a
wide range OF territory. from Maine 10
Louisiana. that one could buy them for 8
cents apiece! Very large ones, weighing
twenty-five or thirty pounds We're worth
n cents. To-day "A big wild turkey costs
e. Ruthless pot-huntng has been mainly
responsible for the destruction Of The
snecies. But they still linger in Virginia,
and in other parts Of their former range,
and If protected, they would doubtless
r,ultiply rapidly to the satisfaction Of al
bird lovers and the JOY of tho sportsman
and the epicure.
There is no question that other associa-
,iors of sportsmen In various parts Of the
country will take up this new and pict-
uresoue enterprise Of raising Wild turkeys.
and that other states viii follow Tho exam
ple Of Massachusetts IN passing laws n
nrotect them. To sectirc breeding stock is
a matter of no serioua difiicully The bird
are caught without inJurinS them IN d kind