Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-09
OUR PRESERVES
DISTINGUISHED FOR
WEALTH Of GAME
In Spite Of Protective Laws,
However, Number is Dimin.
ishing-SpOrtsmen Esti.
mated at Five Million.

"esiiiiHS VI the hunting season, the
variety and plenty OF the North American
huntsman's domain Is indicated In u
communication to the National Geo.
graphic society from Henry W. Hen.
shaw. chief OF tho United Statos Bioiog-
ical Survey. which tells OF American
came Birds" Mr. Henshaw enumcratcS
more than 100 kinds OF game birds COM
mon to this countrv's preserves, among
which arc 81 kinds Of duck, eight kinds
OF goose. eight kind Of quail, and Ave
kinds of grouse. While Americas pre-
serves are distinguished among the hunt
ing fields Of the world for their wealth
Of game. the writer shows that they are
hunted with dangerous thoroughness. He
says: 80
America has always been O paradise
for sportsmen, but OF late years the mum.
Der OF those whose chief relaxation 10
tho pursuit Of game has greatly increas-
ed. and to-day there are probably not far
from five millions who are interested in
the pursuit OF game! What this army OF
iiNe million hunters means to the LARGE
and small game of America can better
be Imagined than described Modem
guns and ammunition are OF the very
best. and they Ire sold at prices 50 low
as to be within the reach Of all Added
to these very efficient weapons for kill.
Ing small game are innumerable devices
for killing waterfowl. as sneak boats.
punt-guns. swivelg sail-boats. steam,
launches. night floating, night lighting
and Others"
The varieties OF American game duck
given by Mr.. Henshaw are badpate.
Barrow's gOld-eye black, bunlehead;
king. Pacific. specialized and Steller's
elder. fulvous tree-duck, mallarl, mep-
ganser, red-head. pintail, scaup, scooter,
canvas-back, shoveller. and teal or can.
vas-back, he says:
The canvas-back. perhaps the most
famous Of American waterfowl, has pur-
chased Its fame at a price. So highly 10
1t priced by the epicure that today he
who can afford to dine on canvas back
Gets the mark of luxurious living Not
that the canvas-back differs essentially
from other ducks, but It's exceptional!
flavor Is due to the fact that Its favorite
food is wild celery long ribbon like
grass which grows in shallow ponds and
estuaries. AS the plant roots several feet
under the surface. only the diving ducks
can secure it and the plebian kinds have
to be content with such floating frag-
ments as they can pick up or can steal
from their more aristocratic relatives. In
Oregon and Washington. the cNnvas-
back lives much upon wapato, q bulb
like root formerly a staple article Of
food among many Indian tribes. and
their exceptional flavor Is said to be lit
tie. II any. inferior to that OF the celery
fed canvas-back of the East. Priced
nd hS.
ranks of the canvas-back have been de-
peted by the relentless pursuit to which
1t has been subjected. However, the
greater number OF these ducks breed far
to the northward where they are safe.
and under present laws their number
should increase to something like their
former abundance"
Despite this country's present vast
wealth In game birds. according to the
writer, they would soon be shot away
but for proper protection. AS 1t Is. he
continues, the numbers Of game birds
today are quite insignificant when COM
pared to the abundance Of former days.
Destruction of former breeding places
by drainage and, more especially, the re.
causes assigned for the falling off Of sup.
ply. Mr.. Henshaw writes:
The statements OF the early chroniclers
regarding the multitudes OF ducks, plov-
er. and wild pigeons almost defy belief
When. in the records Of the first part
of the last century, one reads of clouds
OF pigeons that required three days to
pass a given point In continuous NOV
ing stream, and again in fOcks estimated
to contain more than two billion birds.
credulity Is taxed to the limit. Yet not
>pnly one such flock was observed. but
they were OF periodic occurrence during
many years Of or early history. and the
accounts of them arc too well attcsted
to be doubted. As throwing curious
sidelight on tho abundance OF wild fowl
and the hardships to which the slaves Of
the period were subjected. quote from
Grinnel. who states that In early days
slave owners who hired on. thar slaves,
stipulated In the contract that canvas
back ducks should not be fed 10 thcm
more than twice each week"
A high money value Is placed on our
game resources, Mr.. Henshaw states
that Oregon values her game resources.
consisting largely of game birds. Mt S.
10000 a year. while California and Maine
each claim their game to be worth $1.-
10000 year. which suggests the enor-
nous aggregate value OF the cOuntry's
game. Mr.. Henshaw concluded HIS COM
munication with an expression OF the be-
lief that the government and the people
of tho country should do all in their
power to protect and to bring about
rightful Use OF this rich heritage.