Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-27
Birds Going South
Find Feed Ground
Protection Assured

New Orleans, July Is "a. Pre-
inforced by a staff of seven wardens
in his own employ, by the moral sup
Port OF the state Of Louisiana. to
which he only recently conveyed the
Rockefeller. Sage and Rainey- Nc
llhenny game preserves, and by good
sportsmen everywhere, Edward
Avery McIlhenny Is now undertaking
q new stewardship in the interest of
formal advisor and overseer for the
state in connection with more than
500 square miles of territory, Mr..
McIlhenny has taken control of some
100000 acres of land in the heart of
the Gulf Coast game regions.
Mr.. McIlhenny has for some time
owned $4,000 acres of ground, and
only few days ago obtained $4,000
acres more in the wild fowl feeding
grounds. This land constitutes
practically all that is left of the
feeding grounds except the territory
in the game preserves. Mr.. Nc
llhenny, after several months re-
quired to clear up title to all the
ground in question, has just an
nounced his purchase.
The significance of Mr.. McIlhenny's
announcement is in the fact that
with his acquisition of the ground the
millions of duck, geese and other
game birds which come from the
north to feed here in winter are as
sured of permanent feeding grounds
and permanent protection against
INSCRIPTIONS hunters and CONNER
Acial exploitation. Already Mr.. Nc
Ilhenny is being congratulated by
sportsmen for his farsighted pro-
gram.
Mr.. McIlhenny has announced no
plans with regard to the tract he has
acquired other than to say that
game will be protected and safe
guarded. With this 100000 acres in
hands friendly to wild life, game will
be safeguarded in all the territory
from the mouth of the Mississippi to
Texas.
Seventy-five miles of coast line
along the gulf will be protected, and
the total area inland Is approxi-
mately 700 square miles. This terri
tory includes the Rockefeller Founda-
ton. of $4,000 acres; the Rainey-
McIlhenny and Louisiana State Wild
Life Refugees of $1,000 acres; the
Sage Foundat ton, of $4,000 acres,
and the property now controlled by
Mr.. McIlhenny. The Gulf of Mexico
is the south line, and the White
Lake and the Louisiana rice fields
form the northern boundary. Need
less TO say this territory is a para
disc for birds coming from as far
north as the Arctic Circle to feed for
the winter-as well as for hunters. if
they could get into the grounds and
run wild.
Sportsmen generally are familiar
with Mr.. Mcllhenny's work in the di-
rection of game conservation. Be-
ginning several years ago he devoted
much time and money to acquiring
ground for the game preserve. Be
sides giving land of his own. he OBJ
tanned grants from others. He now
has on his own territory a squad of
seven wardens who patrol the district
and see that the laws are obeyed.
They are safeguarding not only the
game bird feeding grounds, but the
Eaunts of the innumerable deer and
bear, to say nothing of the otter,
mink, muskrats, squirrels, rabbits
and other small game.
Like most of the ground in this re-
gion. Mr.. McTlhenny's 100000 acre
tract Is of extremely fertile soil and
suited to many profitable crops.
But he is developing it not with agri-
culture in mind. Instead he is organ
izing an interlacing system of canals.
ponds and lakes. Many of these have
been and all will be, sown with such
game bird delicacies as banana water
lilies. wild celery, coontails, etc, to
attract the fowl.
1.-The reason why the wonderful
game supply of forty years ago has
disappeared" said Mr.. McIlhenny, ais
that the great states such as Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. across the
heart of the continent have been Gull
tivated toethe point where migratory
birds can find no place to alight and
feed. If we do not develop win
ter home for these great flocks in
Louisiana. they will pass from
Canada and the Arctic, onto South
America, and become only memory
in the United States"