Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-22
INTERNATIONAL BIRD PROTECTION
ny FREDERIC J. uIsi<t>

WASHINGTON. -. e., September 2I.-
In a few days there VIII take place
IN Washington a conference between
the official naturalsts OF ,wo great
governments for the discussion OF tho
best way To protect the birds that
migrate from one country 10 another
t. Gordon Hewitt, cutomologist to
the Dominion OF Canada. has written
10 the Chief of Tho biological Survey
mere. asiCinG for an appointment at
which he may learn from our govern
hent scientists how they have gone
about the enforcement Of the Federal
migratory bird Law. For by a trcatv
recently concluded between the Sccr.-
tarE "i Stat" and the British ambas-.
sador the Dominion of Canada has
agreed 10 cooperate with the United
states IN the preservation of mipra-
tory birds. This means that the great
Federal Law. which FOR tho FIRST time
gave uniform ana scientific protection
TO the bids OF nation. is now to-
have it's Jurisdiction extended over tho
whole OF {" continent, and from semi
tropical To arctic regions.
The Significance of this treaty is
scarcely gcali2cd except by the govern
mcnt officials ana the societies OF ma
iuralists and sportSmcn who have been
working for the preservation OF Arucrl-
can wild life these many years The
naturalists Say that the Federal law
combined with tho treaty has saved
III" Wild fowl Of North Amcrtca and
!nsnres that they viii be Abundant for
generations to come
The saving %: our migratory wild
fowl means tho saving OF nu assct
which is worth millions Of dollars, ~
sport, food ana in money brought to
rcsions Where the shooting is good.
II also means The saving OF sport for
the people AZ large, because the great
American rivers which are the high
about the only part OF our d-mntn THAI
cannot aud will not 30 fenced and con
vertcd into game preserves
The licenses taken out show that
there will be Oyer five million sports
men I" take tn" Held this fail. This
means that about ono man ont OF every
five who is old enough TO carry q;
gun seeks the health giving exercise.
The excitement, til" adventure and tn"
training of hand and eye ana nerve
which is TO he found in the hunting
. field. Beyond doubt. the love OF
outdoor sport is growing in this conn
try. and along tho c!cancst and most
sportsman-ik lines The old market
hunter, with his murdcrous swivel gun
has practically disappeared. The iiult
sixteen ana twcnty-gnurc weapons.
which require the greatest skill and
speed on the part OF the sportsman
are replacing tho ten ana twclvc-paucc
= Z
d"nCcs of sentiment in favor OF game
protection and game propagation.
Whit viii Hunters DO.
But where these 5000. 900 hunters arc
going TO hunt is becoming more and
more of question. f:Vcrywhcrc farms
are posted against hunters: the far
mcrs either want the shooting them
selves or else they want 10 preserve the
birds for their value 10 the crops
Many OF tho best hunting areas are
being converted into great preserves
after the English fashion the South
Atlantic region. from Norfolk to Jack
Sonvi!lc. is now dotted with these great
shooting estates. most OF them owned
by clubs. some by individuals. There
! is no free upland shooting left except
IN the West. where the mountain ana
desert have halted the advance of civ
!lization.
Eat the great rivers Of which there
are many in the United - ties. can
not be converted into hunting estates.
The naviGahle waters OF America re-
main free 10 amy one who cam buy or
build boat. and these waters. with
proper restriction of shooting. are
capable OF supporting billions of wild
| fowl. To save the great fleets Of wild
wings that come down out of the North
, in the autumn. sending q Jingle Of cN-
| element through tho blood Of every
hunter, is to save the one sport that
promises 10 remain free for all in the
future.
I The great Importance of the Canada.
treaty is that Il haas saved The brood
ing grounds of these wild fowl. Most
/ Of our wild ducks. and especially the
/ more valuable fresh water species. such
/ as ballard. teal. nintail and aadwall,
( breed naturally FROM the middle United
4 States northward into Canada. Audu-
! bon'S wonderful accounts of American
/ birds az he found them in his day, show
/ that wild ducks then bred many de
/ rrccs farther South than they do now.
The most important factor in driving
7 them farther North was spring shoot =
/ ing. when the ducks began their
I Northern ilicht in March and April,
/ they met with a hail OF lead from tho
| Gulf to the Canadian line and beyond.
+, They could not stop OF the lakes of
] the Middle West. where they had bred
! for years. Each season they were
! driven farther and farther North. until
/ gradually the Saskatchewan country,
The lake trcwu barrcns about Hudson
! other far. wild places have been their
only refuge. These great wilds OF
| marsh and lake are all that have saved
them from destruction long ago. The
f, depleted remnant that escaped the
: spring fusilladc each year raised l,roods
~ tho far North, aud returned tu "a"
alnuahtcr in the fan.
Ecdrral inw Works Sio.: dcr$.
Now the Federal migratory bird law
has cut of the deadly spring vollcy.
and thereby has literally accomplished
| wonders. The number of waterfowl in
the country has almost doubled. The
/ College has written the biological Sur