As an instance of persistent market shooting on the greatest ducking waters of the eastern United States, I offer this report from a trustworthy agent sent to Currituck Sound, North Carolina, in March, 1911.

I beg to submit the following information relative to the number of wild ducks and geese shipped from this market and killed in the waters of Back Bay and the upper or north end of Currituck Sound, from October 20th to March 1st, inclusive.

Approximately there were killed and shipped in the territory above named, 130,000 to 135,000 wild ducks and between 1400 and 1500 wild geese.  From Currituck Sound and its tributaries there were shipped approximately 200,000 wild ducks.

You will see from the above figures that each year the market shooter exacts a tremendous toll from the wild water fowl in these waters, and it is only a question of a short time when the wild duck will be exterminated, unless we can stop the ruthless slaughter.  The last few years I have noted a great decrease in the number of wild ducks; some of the species are practically extinct.  I have secured the above information from a most reliable source, and the figures given approximately cannot be questioned.

The effect of the passage of the Bayne law, closing the greatest American market against the sale of game was an immediate decrease of fully fifty per cent in the number of ducks and geese slaughtered on Currituck Sound.  The dealers refused to buy the birds, and one-half the killers were compelled to hang up their guns and go to work.  The duck-slaughterers felt very much enraged by the passage of the law, and at first were inclined to blame the northern members of Currituck ducking clubs for the passage of the measure; but as a matter of fact, not one of the persons blamed took any part whatever in the campaign for the new law.

THE UNFAIRNESS OF SPRING SHOOTING.—­The shooting of game birds in late winter and spring is to be mentioned only to be condemned.  It is grossly unfair to the birds, outrageous in principle, and most unsportsmanlike, no matter whether the law permits it or not.  Why it is that any state like Iowa, for example, can go on killing game in spring is more than I can understand.  I have endeavored to find a reason for it, in Iowa, but the only real reason is:—­“The boys want the birds!”

I think we have at last reached the point where it may truthfully be said that now no gentleman shoots birds in spring.  If the plea is made that “if we don’t shoot ducks in the spring we can’t shoot them at all!” then the answer is—­if you can’t shoot game like high-minded, red-blooded sportsman, don’t shoot it at all!  A gentleman can not afford to barter his standing and his own self-respect for a few ducks shot in the spring when the birds are going north to lay their eggs.  And the man who insists on shooting in spring may just as well go right on and do various other things that are beyond the pale, such as shoot quail on the ground, shoot does and fawns, and fish for trout with gang hooks.