The Washington herald., 1922-10-10
Noted Writer Pleads for State
Propagation of Fish and Game
Robert W. Chambers Asks if Good Old-F ash
ioned American Thanksgiving Is Only
A Name Today.

there are too few privately owned
tracts OF land to make such protec-
tion OF much value.
Our only other refuge for wild
game is the National parks" Mr.
Chambers explains. And. in a mea-
State in the Union maintained q State
and certain tracts owned by clubs.
are in no sense ssnctuaries for same.
In them. however. there is some ef-
fective supervision; the areas are
governed by sensible regulations: the
laws are fairly well obeyed: and. in
the Game Clubs. fairly successful at
ternpts are made to propa gate fish ans
game.
Suppose" he suggests. every
How is the State forest to be
forest and game refuge OF land un-
At for agriculture-swamp, swale.
rocky and sandy regions.
Mad seIf-su.taininE.
How Is the state forest to be
maintained and protected? BY revenue
derived from ripe timber felled and
marketed under a scientific forestry
system.
How Is a State Game Refuge to
be paid for? BY the sale of shooting
and fshins-icenses issued to those
who are willing to pay for good
shooting on State property.
As a nucleus for the rehabilitation
of our native FISH and game We should
have a State forest (Which includes
a nursery, a State game preserve
(where licensed shooting is permittedD
and State Sanctuary for fish and
game. in which no fishing and no
shooting Is permitted. and in which
propagation of fish and game is prac-
ticed for the purpose of restocking
the public territory within the boun-
| daries OF the State.
But even all OF these measures.
properly undertaken. and the game
laws scrupulously observed. would
not bring back to our country the
abundance of fish and game food
that once was here
/ The last word lies with the peo-
pie. They must vote the enacting
clause. For the decisive and vital
consummation OF any project en-
I bracing the repopulation of our
! territory with fish and game fit for
food. the landowners Of America
must be responsible. 1t is up to
/ the Amer can farmer. What can
| he do?
He can provide refuge and cover
| for game by permitting a strip of
wild hedGe-Erowth to aid hi. fences
in separating his fields. He can
/ prevent fres in his wood lot. He
or his sons or his hired men can
/ shoot the vermin that modest game
and the domestic cat. run wild.
Is the worst offender: and the de-
/ generate dog is the next worst.
Hawks and Owls Destructive.
Three hawks and one owl are de.
| structive to game: Cooper's hawk.
the sharp-shinned. the Goshawk;
and the Great Horned Owl.
Further. the farmer could spare
a tile grain in winter to help out
such foreign pheasant as wander
into his woods and farmyard.
He could see to 1t that no pol
luton OF any sort poisons the wa
ters of brook or river that cross
his land.
| And then. n he chose. he would
be entirely right IL he posted his
territory. and IL he exacted a mod
crate fee from anybody who ap-
piled for permission to shoot over
| it.
Not only would the native birds
and game seasts return to land
made suitable for them. but. 4 she
desired, the thrifty housewife could
set scores of pheasant eggs and let
it be known that the birds were
| liberated in the vicinity.
why not? 1t would be o de-
cent, worthy, respectable source OF
revenue. For very little money
any farmer may stock, properly
the waters which are. his. post
them, and permit fishing for a fee.
The writer hopes that the day
Is not very far away when he shall
meet a score of neighbors over q
Thanksgiving table laden with a
fragrant wild turkey flanked by q
smoking brace OF partridges, the
incense of which, God willing, shall
blend with the excellent aroma
from a haunch OF ven son. while
deliciously Drowned quail and q
pair of luscious mallard ducks
well. well! And everything less
expensive than beef and chicken,
"And all washed down with fros-
ty, sparkling new c'der!-