R^eporf of Cf)ief Pi^I) and Game 

 Protector and Forester. 



To tl)e Commissioners of Fist)eries, (iamc and Forests: 



1 HEREBY submit the following figures showing the work of the Fish and Game 

 Protectors and Foresters for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1896, and 

 will venture to say, although I may be charged with egotism, that the figures, 

 which are facts in every instance, show that a majority of the Protectors are capable, 

 efificient officers, and have made a good record during the year. 



I do not think it necessary for me to make any suggestions relative to legislation, 

 but will simply refer to certain fish and game, w-hich, in my opinion, must have better 

 protection, and I trust that the Legislature will continue to see the wisdom of more 

 restrictive measures before certain fish and game which cannot be successfully 

 propagated artificially, become exterminated. The game that is most in danger under 

 the present law are the deer and partridge, and the species of fish that surely ought to 

 be better protected is the black bass. I am compelled by close observation 

 throughout the Adirondacks in the past two years to change my mind as to the mode 

 of hunting deer, and believe that hounding and night hunting must necessarily be 

 abolished. There is no doubt that with the improved guns now in use and the great 

 advantages over former years of reaching the most remote points of the forests where 

 deer inhabit, and the increased number of people interested in the pursuit of deer, a 

 radical change must necessarily take place in the near future or one of the principal 

 attractions to the Adirondacks will soon be a thing of the past. 



The partridge, which cannot be replaced by any artificial means, are in a fair way 



of becoming exterminated unless there is some restriction as to the number one may 



kill and possess and more restrictive provisions as to transportation. With section 



249 of the present Game Law in force, it is possible for a dealer who is so inclined to 



procure express receipts for, say twenty-five game birds, partridges killed out of the 



State, and under it sell 500 birds that may have been killed in this State contrary to 



law. Birds that are killed out of season in this State cannot be identified and 



separated from birds of the same species alleged to have been killeil outside of the 



State, when an express receipt for out-of-State birds is presented to a game protector, 



who may suspect that the birds are killed near the local market, where they are 



offered for sale. 

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