WILD LIFE, Conservation of, in Amer ica. Nothing in the New World impressed the first American explorers more than the abund ance of its animal life. Early accounts of the country and its resources are filled with re joicing over the plenitude of its fishes in both the sea and the inland waters; and of the edible or otherwise useful creatures of forest and plain, especially fur-bearers. During the first century of colonization the fisheries and the fur-trade engaged a large part of the population, and all were utterly unrestrained in their drafts on what seemed to them an in exhaustible wealth. This reckless destruction of American animal life, for the sake mainly of pelts or hides, continued as civilization pene trated to the interior until finally not only beasts of prey but the valuable beaver and marten, the wapiti and other deer, and the bison, antelope and bighorn sheep were all but exterminated, various game-birds and water fowl were depleted and many of the most im portant fishes, especially those of anadromous species, like the salmon and shad, were nearly destroyed. The wild pigeon is only a conspic uous example of a dozen or more species of useful or beautiful birds that have become totally extinct, and many more have been saved only at the last moment by the strenuous efforts of men who fought the ignorance and greed of lawless gunners and fishermen, often at the peril of their lives. The loss to this country and to Canada (included in this sur vey) has been incalculable. It is true that a large part of it was inevitable, for it is impos sible to civilize a region and maintain the whole of its animal life, much of which could not survive the changed conditions apart from any enmity of man; but the needless waste has been prodigious and sinful. Nevertheless, it is only within a comparatively recent time that even the wisest men of America have awakened to the importance of preserving what remains of the continent's wild life.
Regulative efforts began to be made in the 18th century in the older Eastern States by local laws forbidding shooting in the breeding season, the taking of fish on their spawning-grounds, or on their way thereto, and conserving certain fur-bcarcrs, but these regulations were local and related almost wholly to animals of market value. Gradually these enactments were copied
in newer western and southern communities, and were broadened in scope, yet had only a limited effect, partly because they were far from uniform even in adjoining States and were weakened by many exceptions, but mainly because they were not, and perhaps could not, be well enforced, for the people generally were not interested or even felt an inherited preju dice astainst *game laws" of any sort.
The first popular alarm was felt when, in the middle of the last century, the governments of both the United States and Canada dis cuverid that the decline in the fisheries had reached a ilanger-point. This led to the mak ing of inure stringent law s and their better enforcement, parti, Wady on the Great Lakes. this it sis.il of effort scientific sunlit s of fi oil tidies were promoted by the which result —1 in learning how to ropagate fishes artificially on a commercial and thus restock depleted waters. With this movement, by which alone the fisheries of the Great Lakes and other inland waters have been maintained, the name of Socncer F. Baird (q.v.) is permanently associated. These methods, protected by stringent laws and policing, have kept a supply of shad, salmon and other anadromous fishes in our rivers; and sensible regulations are preserving the great sea-fisheries for cod, herring, mackerel and many southern species. Similarly the small lake and river fishes of local food value, or interesting to anglers, are now fairly well protected and re plenished under the watchful care of State commissions and various anglers' associations Regulative care is preserving well also the oyster, clam, crab and other shellfish supply.