The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-09-18
GAME BIREs KILLED OFF
Number Diminished 90 Per Cent
Federal Law Saving Remnant.


Formerly migratory waterfowl fire.
quented the United States in enorm-
GUS numbers, and the supply appear
ed to be inexhaustible. During the
last rs years, however, the growth of
population and the vast increase in
the number of hunters, combined
with greatly improved firearms and
an extraordinary increase in the IA
cilities for rapid transportation TO the
most remote haunts of wild life, have
resulted in an appealing reduction in
their numbers. 1t is believed to be
a conservative estimate that the
gross number of migratory game
birds of all kinds existing today in
the United States does not exceed 10
per cent of the number which existed
here rs years ago. The decrease has
been especially rapid during the last
25 years. During this period some
species have become extinct, while
others are nearly so.
Thoughtful sportsmen and other in
terested in our wild life have long
realized the impossibility of saving
what was left of this great national
asset by State action. The rapid pro-
gress of our waterfowl toward extinc-
ton Under State laws was too obyi-
Gus. To save the dwindling remnant
in 1913 the Federal migratory bird
law was enacted. The law has now
been in effect about two years and an
extended inquiry has been made by
the biological survey as TO its effect
on migratory game birds. A large
number of reports from State and
Federal game officials and private in
dividuals in nearly all of the States
of the Union have been received.
The replies from a small number Of
States have been doubtful, usually ow
ing to a lack of definite information
on the subject. From 40 of the States
extending from Maine to California
and from the Gulf States to the Cana
dian border, is given unimpeachable
evidence of an extraordinary increase
in waterfowl during the short period
| llC Id w HAS DtCA III IhCNbs ihS IA
crease is commonly stated. according
to the locality, to be from 10 to sew
eral hundred per cent. and ipcludes
such important species as mallards,
| black mallards, Widgeon, sprigtails,
blue-winged teal, green-winged teal,
| wood ducks, canvasbacks, Canada
| Geese and swans.
Many of the reports are to the eff
! feet that the number of waterfowl
| remaining to breed exceeds anything
seen during the past 10 to % years.
| The results indicate what may be ex-
| pected from a long period OF adequate
protection. gAg
The importance of our Wild fowl as
n national asset is evident when their
| great aggregate value is considered.
The State of Maine estimates the an
nual income from it's game resources
| at S13,000000 OF which about per
cent. or $656000. can safely be allot-
| ted to the returns from migratory
wild fowl Oregon values the annual
| returns from its game resources at
| S5,000000. OF this amount about
| Sl,Q90000 may be attributed TO mi
| gratory wild fowl. 1t is evident that
| the actual annual returns from this
source in the several. States reach a
| very large amount and the value OF
| this resource to the nation amounts
to hundreds of millions of dollars.
| The benefits of the migratory bird
| law in conserving and increasing the
wild life of the country is not confin-
| cd solely to the game birds. This
| law also protects at all times through
out the United States our insectivor-
Gus birds which inhabit every State.
| The bureau of entomology has estima
ted that insects injure agriculture
and farm products to the amount of
| $685. 100000 annually. When 1t is
considered that insectivorous birds
constantly prey upon and devour my
RAIDS of injurious insects throughout
the country, the exceeding value OF
| these birds in maintaining the bal
| ance of our insect enemies is of I'M
told value.