Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-27

UryASHINGTON ID O. Sept 19.-In a few days
wv there will take place Washington confer
" ence between the official naturasts of two
discussion of the best way to pro-
tect the birds that migrate from country 10 anoer
c. Gordon Hewitt, entomologist to the Dominion of
Canada, has written to the chief of the biooscaI sur
here asking for appointment at which he may
learn from government scientists how they have
gone about the enforcement OF the ederal migratory
bird law For by treaty recently concluded between
secretary state British ambassador the
Dominion o Canada has agreed with the
United States preservation of migratory birds
This that the great federal law, which for the
first time uniform and scientific protection to the
birds of nation, is to have its jurisdiction
tended the whole of continent, and from semi
tropical to arctic regions
The significance Of this treaty is scarcely realized
by government officials and the societies of
naturalsts sportsmen who have been working for
the preservation of American wild life these many
years. naturaists say that the federal law,
bned with the treaty has saved the wild fowl of North
America, and insures that they will be abundant for
generations to come.
The saving of migratory wild fowl means the
saving of which is worth millions of dollars
in sport food and in money brought to regions where
the shooting is good 1t also the saving of
the people large, because the great American
rivers which are the highways Of travel the
fowl about the only of domain that canont
and will not be fenced and converted into game
serves.
The licenses taken out show that there will be over
five million sportsmen to take the fall This
out of every five who is
old enough to carry seeks the health-giving
ercise the excitement the adventure and the training
of hand and and which is to be found in the
hunting field. Beyond a doubt, the love of outdoor
is growing in this country and along the ceanest
and sportsmanl;ke lines. The old market hunter
with his murderous swivel gun has practically dis
appeared The light sixteen and weapons
which require the greatest skill and speed the part
of the sportsman replacing the ten and twelve
gauge shotguns Everywhere evidences OF
sentiment in favor of protection and game propa
cation.
But where these five million hunters going to
hunt is becoming and more of question. Every
where posted against hunters; the farmers
shooting themselves else they want
preserve the birds for their value to the crops
Many hunting being converted into
preserves after the English fashion. The south
Atlantic region, Norfolk to Jacksonville, is
with these shooting estates most Of them
owned by clubs, by individuals. There is free
upland shooting left except in the west where the
of civiliza-
ton.
But the great rivers of which there many in
United States, be converted into hunting
estates navigable waters of America remain free
to any who buy build boat and these
proper restriction of shooting, capable
of supporting billions of wild fowl To the great
fleets wings that down out of the north in
the autumn sending Jingle of excitement through the
blood of every hunter is to the sport that
promises remain free for all in the future