The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
UNIFORM LAWS Big
AID TO WILD FOWL
Migrants Increasing Year by
Year, Says Bureau of Bio
logical Survey.
% STATE LAWS AGREE
Three, However, Fail to At
ford Legal Protection to
Waterfowl in Spring.

WAsHINoToN, April 19.-Perhaps mi
gratory birds will never again be seen
in such vast flocks as when tho early
settlers pushed their way westward, but
specialists OF the bureau of biological
survey. United States Department of
Agriculture. believe their numbers are
now increasing year by year.
Widespread interest in their preser-
walton. prompted by American sports
men who saw the birds would be ex-
terminated by unchecked destruction, is
thought we'll justified when 1t is con-
sidered that the birds food and eco
nomic value amounts to many millions
of dollars annually.
Growth OF sentiment for tho conserve
ton OF so valuable a resource by pre-
venting destruction. through spring
shooting, of game birds and by other
protective measures has been notable
in the last half century.
In 1900 only nine States had laws
prohibiting all spring shooting, while
In 1918 there were thirty-one. Only
three States now afford no legal pro-
lection. Uniform and adequate preser-
walton was first given attention by the
Federal Government in 1904. when a
bill was introduced in Congress but
failed to become law. The subject, how
ever. was kept before Congress almost
continuously until the enactment Of the
migratory bird law in 1913.
Laws Good Eject shown.
This Federal statute merely conferred
on the United States Department OF AS-
riculture the power to fix closed seasons
during which It would be unlawful to
capture or kill migratory birds This
law did not provide for effective en-
forcement but IL exerted a wonderful in
fuence upon the public mind. and it's
passage laid the real foundation for
more adequate protection. Fully 90
per cent. of the spottsmen abided by the
regulations established under this law
and refrained from shooting during the
closed seasons
The result was almost instantaneous
waterfowl and other migratory game
birds not only showed ar once marked
Increase in numbers, but owing to the
cessation OF spring shooting. remained
unmolested in ever increasing numbers
to breed in places from which formerly
they had been driven every spring by
incessant cunning
At the end of the five years during
which this law was in operation State
game commissioners and leading sports.
expression that wild fowl were more
abundant than at any time In the pre-
ceding twenty-five years,
SO. Species Protected.
The marked Improvement under this
law instilled new spirit into the ad-
vocates of bird conservation and showed
the wonderful possibilities under a Fed
eral law. broad and comprehensive
enough not only to protect the birds dur
Ing the mating and breeding season but
TO equalize hunting privileges and op-
portunities by more uniform State laws.
To protect birds further, a treaty af-
fecting birds migrating between this
country and Canada was concluded in
1916 between the United States and
Great Britain. Altogether 537 species
or migratory birds are included in the
various families protected by the treaty
1t provides for continuous protection
for migratory insect-eating birds and
certain other migratory non-game birds
and protection for five and ten years for
certain migratory game birds.
The hunting season for other miGra-
tory game birds is limited TO a period
not exceeding three and one-half months
between September ] and March 10 OF
each year, except shore birds in certain
northeastern States. where such hunt
ing season must be between August 16
and February /.
Regulations promulgated under the
Act of Congress approved July 3, 1918.
to give effect to the treaty, establish
open seasons on shorebirds in such
northeastern States from August 16 to
November 80, and with this exception no
migratory game birds can be hunted
in the United States between February
l and September Is inclusive of each
year.