State Reports 259 perceptible interest has been aroused in the general public in the question of bird preservation. The fact of the matter is, before that time there was no interest whatever, but, thanks to the help of the editors of the daily news- papers, who have given us considerable space, the economic as well as the humanitarian aspects of the question have been so repeatedly brought to the notice of the public that a sentiment has been engendered which speaks well for the ultimate outcome. " Just how far or to what lengths the movements for bird protection will go we do not know. One thing, however, stands out prominently, and that is, that the former conditions of indiscriminate bird slaughter will never again be tolerated. After we broke up the business of trapping and shipping Mockingbirds and Cardinals out of our state, as well as all species of game- birds, our greater activities have taken the form of planning and carry- ing out the possibilities of bird-breeding on our great reservation in the Gulf of Mexico. With our own eighteen islands, comprising the Audubon Reservation, and the seven adjacent islands of the Breton Island Reservation, belonging to the federal government, we control an area of upwards of 700 square miles of land and water devoted exclusively to the nesting birds. "The National Association aids us in this work by paying the wages of two wardens and, in consequence, these islands are rapidly becoming a mar- vel in bird-breeding. If all goes well, in a few years they will become the most wonderful spectacle of wild sea-bird life in this country or probably in any other country. Thousands upon thousands of Terns and Gulls were raised there during the present year, and the work has only begun. Our state legislature reenacted the A. O. U. law, with numerous additions, and now it is as nearly perfect as the present conditions will warrant. " Unfortunately, we have to lament one backward step, due principally to the sudden stoppage of immemorial custom. Our legislators very weakly met the proposals of some misguided ignorant persons to take Robins and Cedar Waxwings out of the non-game class and placed them in the game- bird class, permitting their killing during certain seasons. We have accepted the situation, however, and will attempt to meet it by having the economic value of these birds determined by the experts of the Department of Agri- culture, and we feel sure that their reports will end this foolishness for all time to come. Our peerless songster, the Mockingbird , is increasing in numbers all over the state and is holding his own against the assaults of that pestiferous foreigner Passer domesticus. Laughing Gulls and Forster's Terns are appear- ing on the waters adjacent to the city of New Orleans, where their absence has been noted for many years. " We have tried to teach the people of our state the tremendous eco- nomic importance of bird life to the welfare of mankind, and we can frankly and truthfully report that our words have been and are being heeded. Our
