were passed. Unfortunately the habits of many animals 

 were unknown and many forms, excluded from the 

 protected lists, were slaughtered in great numbers 

 because they were thought to have been destructive. 

 Some of these were completely exterminated before 

 their real habits were learned. On many of these ani- 

 mals, bounties were paid by the State. Others fell vic- 

 tims to the traps of fur hunters. Many animals suffered 

 from the removal of other forms which served as food, 

 while still others were unable to cope with the changes 

 eflfected by the advent and spread of civilization. 



At the present time the Game Commission oflfers 

 bounties on wildcats, foxes and weasels. The menace 

 of the wildcat has been reduced considerably. The 

 gray fox which can climb and jump to amazing 

 heights, is more destructive than the red fox. Both 

 destroy small game and birds. The weasel is still plen- 

 tiful enough to be destructive. While certain measures 

 must be adopted for the control of destructive animals, 

 the writer insists that it is poor psychology to encour- 

 age any boy of adolescent age to wantonly kill. The 

 State Game Commission has successfully introduced 

 more humane methods of eradication. 



In recent years, Pennsylvania has recovered its 

 former attractions for the hunter. The establishment 

 of the Game Commission has been largely responsible 

 for the increase in wild life. Through the efforts of 

 this body State parks and forests have been acquired. 

 These have been stocked with wild animals, and excel- 

 lent methods of protection have been introduced, with 

 great success. But the Commission realized that a con- 

 structive program could not be carried out without the 

 cooperation of the public, so they immediately began 



-*H[ 40 ><*- 



