Conservation Commission 193 



hatcheries could not be sold in the State of New York except dur- 

 ing the open season on native trout. At the present time they can 

 be sold at any period, thereby providing a market the year round, 

 and at the same time giving protection to our native trout. I feel 

 that the Commission should do everything possible to retain the 

 fee for tags as at present. I cannot see where it works a hardship 

 upon the hatchery owners, as they have claimed, because trout are 

 a luxury which is paid for by the consumer. 



ADDITIONAL PROTECTORS 



Some protectionists have held that in consequence of rigid en- 

 forcement of the law, violations thereof would diminish from year 

 to year; but the records of the department show that each suc- 

 ceeding year we are apprehending a larger number of violators. 

 As I have stated previously, I believe that but a small percentage 

 of the persons committing violations are ever brought to trial. 

 Therefore I again submit for the consideration of the Commis- 

 sion the advisability of increasing the protective force to at least 

 two hundred men. 



GAME INCREASING 



As in former years, I have endeavored through the force of pro- 

 tectors to ascertain the conditions as to game throughout the State. 

 I feel from the reports that have been made that the rigid pro- 

 tection this Commission is giving to the wild life of the State is 

 bringing about better conditions, and the game is gradually in- 

 creasing. This holds good particularly as to deer. The northern 

 protectors report that never in the history of the State have there 

 been as many deer in the mountains as at the present tinie. I 

 think this is true, as it is borne out by the numerous complaints 

 made to the Commission of damage being done by deer. This is 

 especially true as to counties in which there is no open season. 



This would seem a broad statement to make, owing to the fact 

 that there is such a large number of hunters who go afield yearly ; 

 but it should be taken into consideration that in the early history 

 of the State deer which became yarded were killed by the hun- 

 dreds by packs of wolves ; the natives considered the deer forests 

 their pork barrel, and the lumbermen made it a custom to employ 

 hunters to kill deer, which were ground up in sausage machines 



