Page 79 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

REGULAR ARMY OF DESTRUCTION
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at large. It is the spirit of extermination according to law. Even the killing of game for the market is not so great a scourge as this; for this spirit searches out the game in every nook and cranny of the world, and spares not. In effect it says: "If the law is defective, it is right forme to take every advantage of it ! I do not need to have any conscience in the matter outside the letter of the law.'"
The extent to which this amazing spirit prevails is positively awful. You will find it among pseudo game-protectors to a paralyzing extent It is the great gunner's paradox, and it pervades this country from corner to corner. No: there is no use in trying to "educate" the mass of the hunters of America out of it, as a means of saving the game; for positively it can not be done! Do not waste time in trying it. If you rely upon it, you will be doing a great wrong to wild life, and promoting extermination. Theonlyremedyissweepinglaws,forlongcloseseasons,
for a great many species. Forget the paltry dollar-a-year license money. The license fees never represent more than a tenth part of the value of the game that is killed under licenses.
The savage desire to kill "all that the law allows" often is mani- fested in men in whom we naturally expect to find a very different spirit. By way of rllumination, I offer three cases out of the many that I could state.
Case No. 1. The Duck Breeder.—A gentleman of my acquaintance hasspentseveralyearsandmuchmoneyinbreedingwildducks. From my relations with him, I had acquired the belief that he was a great lover of ducks, and at least wished all species well. One whizzing cold day in winter he called upon me, and stated that he had been duck-hunting; whichsurprisedme. Headded,"IhavejustspenttwodaysonGreat South Bay, and I made a great killing. In the two days I got ninety-four ducks!"
I said, " How could you do it, —caring for wild ducks as you do.^"
"Well, I had hunted ducks twice before on Great South Bay and didn't have very good luck; but this time the cold weather drove the ducks in, and I got square with them!"
Case No. 2. The Ornithologist.—A short time ago the news was pub- lished in Forest and Stream that a well-known ornithologist had distin- guished himself in one of the mid-western states by the skill he had dis- played in bagging thirty-four ducks in one day, greatly to the envy of the natives ; and if this shoe fits any American naturalist, he is welcome to put it on and wear it.
Case No. 3. The Sportsman.—A friend of mine in the South is the owner of a game preserve in which wild ducks are at times very numerous. Once upon a time he was visited by a northern sportsmen who takes a deep and abiding interest in the preservation of game. The sportsman was invited to go out duck-shooting; ducks being then in season there. He said:
"Yes, I will go; and T want you to put me in a place where I can kill
!