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ALARMING DECREASE OF WOODCOCK The woodcock one of the finest of Americas migratory game birds is decreasing m alarming numbers To say that it is one of the vanishing birds is not to overstate it itThat That the woodcock has steadily decreased is tje view of Dr E W Nelson chief of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey tie even has misgivings as to its future And yet it is only within a brief period that the bird was found in abundance abundanceIt It is Dr Nelsons belief that absolute protection for a term of yeaoi is needed A two years close period might mean the woodcocks coming back in large numbers just as certain as the migratory wild fowl and shore birds have dpne under the uni ¬ form protecting laws of the federal regulations regulationsWith With various states giving close periods f onc and two years to the quail and ruffed grouse Dr Nelson is of the opinion that the woodcock if the season continues to remain open will have to bear the brunt of the hunters guns throughout its long range and with tins inroads that have been made he thinks that this additional burden will be too great for the woodcock to bear
