After a long and somnolent period, during which hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, brant and other birds had been slaughtered for market at the Bear River shambles and elsewhere, the state awoke sufficiently to abate a portion of the disgrace by passing a bag-limit law (1897).

And then came Nature’s punishment upon Utah for that duck slaughter.  The ducks of Great Salt Lake became afflicted with a terrible epidemic disease (intestinal coccidiosis) which swept off thousands, and stopped the use of Utah ducks as food!  It was a “duck plague,” no less.  It has prevailed for three years, and has not yet by any means been stamped out.  It seems to be due to the fact that countless thousands of ducks have been feeding on the exposed alluvial flats at the mouth of the creek that drains off the sewage of Salt Lake City.  The conditions are said to be terrible.

To-day, Utah is so nearly destitute of big game that the subject is hardly worthy of mention.  Of her upland game birds, only a fraction remains, and as her laws stand to-day, she is destined to become in the near future a gameless state.  In a dry region like this, the wild life always hangs on by a slender thread, and it is easy to exterminate it!

  Utah should instantly stop the sale of game that she now legally
  provides for,—­twenty-five shore birds and waterfowl per day to
  private parties!

Deer should be given a ten-year close season, at once.  All bag limits should instantly be reduced one-half.  The sage grouse, quail, swans, woodcock, dove, and all shore birds should be given a ten-year close season,—­and rigidly protected,—­before the stock is all gone.

  The model law for the protection of non-game birds should be enacted
  at once.

  The absolute protection of elk, antelope and sheep (until 1913)
  should be extended for twenty years.

  Utah should create a big-game preserve, at once.

If Utah proposes to save even a remnant of her wild life for posterity, she must be up and doing.

VERMONT: 

In view of all conditions, it must be stated that the game laws of Vermont are, with but slight exceptions, in good condition.  It is a pleasure to see that there is no spring shooting; that there is no “open” season of slaughter for the moose, caribou, wood-duck, swan, upland plover, dove or rail; that no buck deer with antlers less than three inches long may be killed; and that there is a law under which damages by deer to growing crops may be assessed and paid for by the county in which they occur.  Moreover, if there is to be any killing of game, her bag limits are not extravagant.  All the game protected by the state is immune from sale for food purposes, but preserve-reared game may legally be sold.  We recommend the following new measures: 

  Absolute close seasons of five-years’ duration for ruffed grouse,
  quail, woodcock, snipe and all shore birds without a single
  exception.