Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-07-08

the state upon higher ground than that the treaty
deals with creatures that for the moment are
within the state borders, that it must be carried
out by officers of the United States within the
same territory and that but for the treaty the
state would be free to regulate this subject it.
SELF"
With the federal migratory bird law in opera
ton and Canada holding up her end-as she is
the birds have a chance. AS soon as Mexico is
brought to time and made to behave decently,
the same kind of treaty will be arranged with
her. Then the birds will be protected all along
the line of migration.
1t is the opinion of most duck shooters that
the good effect of the federal migratory bird law
is already very much in evidence. The birds now
nest in many of their old nesting places in the
United States, instead of going clear to northern
Canada. Like all wild life they are quick to
sense their protection and to take advantage of
1t. In consequence the hunter, from his view
point, is pleased with the working of the law
because it gives him more ducks to shoot in the
fall.
The judgment of the hunter is confirmed by
that of the biologist. The United States Biological
survey is engaged in a study of the conditions at
the larger breeding places in various parts of
the country. A 1920 report on "Waterfowl in
Nebraska"-an illustrated bulletin of II pages
by Harry c.. Oberholser-says on this point, in
part:
TN its natural state-that is, unaffected by
the presence of mantle sand hill region Of Ne
braska is an ideal breeding place for waterfowl.
1t is, indeed, one of the very best of the remain
ing breeding grounds. The great number of
marshy lakes, with their abundant supply of food,
shelter, and breeding places provide advantages
which 1t would be difficult to surpass.
1T is the universal testimony of residents and
Of sportsmen that the ,myriads Of ducks which in
former times frequented the sand hill region,
particularly during spring and fall, have been
greatly reduced. This diminution is due in part
to spring shooting, but also to a number Of other
causes, including the slaughter of ducks In great
numbers both south and north of Nebraska. The
migration flights here, however, are still large
and show that there remains a good supply of
waterfowl, which with proper protection and rea-
sonable regulation of shooting will continue indef-
nitely to furnish excellent sport. The breeding
waterfowl Of the sand hills also have suffered
from hunters, particularly in spring. On many
Of the, lakes there are club houses owned BY
sportsmen from cities outside of the county, who
were long in the habit Of shooting here regular
ly in spring.
"Since the enactment of the federal statute of
1918, known as the federal migratory bird law,
there has been comparatively little spring shoot
ing in the sand hill region, for the law seems to
have been very well observed.
"In all the localities that the writer visited he
made careful inquiries regarding the effect that
the stopping Of spring shooting has had on the
numbers of waterfowl, particularly ducks. It ia
very gratifying to note that after the federal law
went into effect ducks began steadily to increase
In Nebraska, particularly In the lakes Of eastern
Cherry county, those about the Of
the North Loup river, and at the Cody Lakes.
AS one resident exposed 1t, as soon as the ducks
find out that they will not be disturbed in spring,
they come back in increasingly large numbers