The sun., 1919-07-13
War Proves Human Being
Most Hardy Game Animal
Failed to Annihilate Stop Mans Increase
Game in America and Canada, but Great De-
struction in Europe, Asia and Africa. =.
By JOHN ID. BURNHAM.


The total death casualties Of the war
have been estimated by Secretary OF
War Baker as e,00e.0o men. The total
population Of the world Is, believe,
something over billion and a quarter
souls. so that the world lost something
like per cent OF Its population. But
reproduction was going on all the time.
and the world has more people to-day
than when the war began.
Audubon once estimated that a single
flock of passenger pigeons which he saw
contained more birds than the total pop,
ulatlon of the world. yet only a few dec
AIDES later there were no passenger
pigeons. The race had been annihilated.
The comparison In interesting, for II
illustrates the fact that the human being
Is the most hardy game animal of all.
The greatest war Of history not only
failed to annihilate, but also failed to
stop mans increase. Also II must be
observed that while humanity is increas-
Ing game Is decreasing.
Tho ratio between man and the game
he hunts is constantly assuming a more
unfavorable percentage as regards the
game. And the war itself, paradoxical
though II may be. has In many places
and over large areas accumulated the
disparity.
Almost everywhere except In North
America the food shortage has caused
appalling inroads on the game supply
In England, the honorary secretary of
the English Game Guild tells me II will
take at least twenty years to get game
back TO anything like normal abundance.
The great Increase in vermin, with the
game keepers of at the war. Is partly
responsible for this. In Russia many
Of the finest preserves have been ruined,
and game nowhere exists In its former
| supply. In France the poison gases have
completed the work or destruction. The
Mexican bandits in their mountain re-
treats have converted magnificent game
sections into unproductlve wastea
Slaughtered for Rife Practice.
Carl Akeley says that the war has
taken a toll of from half to two-thlrds
Of African game In the sections where
there has been fighting. Much OF this
game. he says, was wantonly slaught-
cred by the Beers for rife practice.
Aside from the Northern portion Of
North America, the picture Is one of
nearly universal gloom, but here, am
glad to say, conditions are much
brighter.
Both Canada and the United States
have wonderful food supplies and what
| Is more important still an exalted brand
OF wisdom with regard to their natural
/ resources. In both nations the full
meaning OF the value OF the conservation
OF wild life Is at least recognized This
was never more clearly demonstrated
than by the passage OF the treaty for
the protection of migratory birds which
to-day unites the two countries In broth
erly bond. and which was ratified by
| m nd .dttvl t,ar H.
| war.
Neither country for a moment lost its
good sense. In the face OF the clamor
FOR cheap food in the form OF marketed
game efficient protective laws were In
no way relaxed. Both countries knew
| that II the demand We're granted 1,
would mean the humiliation OF the
game without any appreciable .benefit,
for the price of food would not have
been lowered by any fraction of the
medium OF exchange.
To-day both countries have more game
than when the war began--game which
Is OF far greater value from the stand.
point of making, by the taking, mer
and soldiers self-reliant and health, In.
dividuals than 1t can ever be for food
alone.
Game Now on Increase.
! have seen II stated of that force
OF troops which Canada sent at the sta
OF the war that rs per cent. were sports.
men. After the proof these men made
Of splendid valor and efficiency, no fur.
Their arguemnt Is needed In support OF
game protection. II such men are bred
and vitalised by any sport then It IL
sacrilege TO endanser that sport. Thanh
God the officials who have been re.
sponsible FOR the preservation OF the
game have been true to their trust
Just one word of caution here, whict
munt be taken at its relative value Il
the whole subject. The tendency to-da,
Is toward too much restrictive law. w,
must not let the tail wag the dog Con
servation OF game Is right. but the con
servation OF sport is righteous
Next to the advance OF civilization
tho chief factor that has reduced oul
game Is the market hunter Almos
everywhere We have put an end to Tn,
commerciallsm Of game, with the result
that game Is on the increase. The Low
water mark in many places has beer
passed. We have the laws and the ma
chlnery for putting them into effect.
From my viewpoint we now need bet
ter enforcement Of existing laws -athe
than additional restrictions. which ar,
only exasperating 10 good sportsmen
Where the law is not thoroughly en-
forced, you and I know that such re
strictions penalize the best class onl,
and that the others do as they please
Laws. as n general rule, should not %
enaoted too far In advance OF publ
sentiment.
Closed seasons are worse than useles
unless they are enforced and the vermii
kept down, I say they are worse thar
useless. because they do not increas
the game. while they do Increase law
lessnees and disregard for other laws
In the United States antelope an
mountain sheep have been exterminatet
under long closed seasonA In this in