142 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



The present law provides the same close season for black and gray squirrels, hares 

 and rabbits. We would recommend that a separate section be provided for squirrels 

 and that the season for hunting shall begin September ist and close December ist. 



We would recommend that fishing for lake trout and black bass from steam crafts 

 be prohibited in Lake George; and we would also recommend that section }}0 be 

 amended to read: "In case any angler or person fishing in the waters of the State," 

 etc., substituting "State" for "Thousand Islands." 



Last year several most desirable amendments to the Game Law advocated by this 

 Commission were defeated because the\' were incorporated in a bill which compelled 

 the shad fishermen to take up their nets on P'riday night at sundown and keep them 

 up until Monday morning at sunrise. This amendment to the Shad Law is of the 

 utmost importance if a supply of spawning fish is to be obtained in the upper Hudson 

 River by this Commission to carry on its shad work, and we would again urge the 

 passage of a law to open the Hudson to the upward passage of the shad unimpeded 

 by nets from Friday night until Monday morning. 



As we have pointed out in a previous report to your honorable body, the State of 

 New York is the second of the Middle Atlantic States and third of the States in the 

 Union in the value of her fishing products, and this enviable position can be main- 

 tained only by liberal appropriations to second her best fish cultural efforts, and 

 adequate laws to protect the fish during the season of reproduction and until the 

 young fish reach a marketable size. 



The Commissioners in conclusion desire to express their thanks to the United 

 States Fish Commission for liberal contributions of fish and fish eggs, and to the 

 ' railroads of the State, notably the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the New 

 York Central and Hudson River Railroad system, the New York, Ontario and Western 

 Railroad, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, the Buffalo, Rochester 

 and Pittsburg Railroad, and the Lehigh \'alley Railroad, for their continued courtesy 

 in hauling the State car and transporting messengers, fish and fish cans free. 



Tl)e 3tate Reservation apon and along tl)e '^t. Laurence River. 



Pursuant to the Provisions of chapter 802, Laws of 1896, entitled " An act for the 

 establishment of a State reservation upon the St. Lawrence Ri\er, in the State of New 

 York," we have the honor to submit the following suggestions : 



The purpose of the above-named law, as indicated by the wording thereof, is to 

 create a State reservation on the St. Lawrence, ancl to place the same in charge of this 

 Commission. And it especially imposes upon us the duty of reporting to this Legis- 



