The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-23

Washington. D. c., Sept. 90
This fall season when i've or SIX
| million Americans will shoulder
+, their guns and go hunting. when
many thousands will make money
as guides and hosts to sportsmen,
and many millions who do not go
afleld will encounter the wild
| things on the dinner plate, is being
used by sportsmen' organizations,
outdoor publications and other in
terested parties to push campaign
for a permanent system of game
projection by game sanetuaries.
The situation in this country is
that wild fowl and other migratory
game birds have been increasing
greatly in the past few years as
the result of federal law giving
them protection throughout their
journeys ups and down the conti-
nent, but the protection of our 9TH
er game is by no means ADEQUATE.
1t is true that many states have
improved their game laws, but
others are hopelessly lax Some
species of game are increasing in
some places, but on the whole,
game other than migratory birds
is barely holding its own, while
some valuable species are threat
ened with determination. Mean
while the army of hunters Grows
ever year
This decreased game supply is
sheer waste. The country could
support perhaps three or four
times as much game as it does. /
That would mean just three or four i
tirles as much food and sport as we !
now get from our wild lands Not |
to bring them to the highest state
of productivity by proper restric-
tons now is as. foolish as picking
the fruit before it is ripe. And
the thing is especially worth do
ing because the hunting in this
country can never be monopolized
by a wealthy few, but most always
remains a source of health, pleas
ure and food for all the people.
The great and growing areas which
are included in national and state {
parks and forests reserves insure :;
his.
The Plan Proposed.
The plan now being urged is the
'reation of game sanctuaries in :
hese forest reserves, where hunt 7
ng. will be prohibited. predatory =
Inimals destroyed and game prop! .
gated. From these Sanctuaries
;ame will naturally overflow the =
crest reserve in which it is y
ituated, a well stocked public "
hooting ground In addition to =
his, game propagated in the sane :,
uaries could be shipped to all
arts of the state.
Several bills have been intro o
uced in the house and senate pro- o
iding for such sanctuaries They u
II provide that the state legisIa- u
Ire must concur in the setting II
side of sanctuary areas, since the 81
anne on these areas belongs to the
late. So there is no transgres- ly
on of states rights in this pro- d.
sion. fc
1t may seem that this measure to
ould benefit chiefly the west, N
here most of the forest reserves to
re, but as a matter of fact, includ- "
e the forest lands in the east &C th
nired by the government under W
lie act OF 1911, there are now for OF
It reserves in all except a few of &c
e North central States. New T
ampshire, Pennsylvania, Virgin W
, Tennessee, North Carolina, Is
eorgia. Alabama, Arkansas and m
orida now all have national for W
t areas in them. Thus a string
game sanctuaries could be estab- ar
shed all up and down the At So
ntic coast In the country sur nc
unding them would be found the hi