546 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



tivelj, that there are very few fawns now in the woods and very 

 many barren does, which fact as the}' say is due to the destruction of 

 the bucks ; further, that each buck has its mate for a period of many 

 monlhs and rarely seeks other does; and ordinarily, will not go any 

 very great distance to consort with other does after it has found a 

 mate. I have noticed many deer tracks in the snow in hunting sec- 

 tions after the season closes and through December, January and 

 February, and there was a most woeful absence of buck tracks, which 

 are readily distinguished from the doe tracks. 



Now, the question has arisen, what limit there will be to the kill- 

 ing of bucks and will the time arrive when these animals will be en- 

 tirely exterminated, barren does in numbers probably left to die of 

 old age, or be killed by the wanton hunter ; and finally, all tracks and 

 traces of deer become obliterated. I cannot conceive that the well 

 spun theory, intelligently formulated and the laws therefrom enacted 

 can avail with the same desired results for the propagation of deer 

 and the prolonging of the hunters enjoyment, as any law or section 

 thereof based upon the actual experience and concensus of men of all 

 classes and grades of intelligeuce and many nearly of the same or 

 equal stamina or discretion with the members of the assembly who 

 frame the laws in this respect. Is it not true, that the country mem- 

 bers supposedly informed upon this subject, do not participate in 

 the preparation of these laws upon the idea of equality with the city 

 members, who to the number of fort}^ fifty or sixty, very largely 

 control the legislation in this and other directions. In a sense, exclud- 

 ing the knowledge, wisdom and experience of the country members 

 who may only have been in the Assembly, at most, a term or two. 

 An old hunter remarked that "these hunting and fishing laws are 

 made by men down at Harrisburg who don't understand the human 

 nature of the deer and trout, as well as us fellows that live in or near 

 the woods." Kindly bear in mind, that I have no strictures or criti- 

 cism for the Game and Fish Commission, or upon its worthy and 

 efficient Secretary, Dr. Kalbfus, since they and he are effectively 

 enforcing the laws; but being impelled and urged by so many 

 men whom I know to be wise in these things, 1 could not refuse to 

 refer to the matter, and have been many times assured that the 

 brief suggestions in my former report were read and widely approved 

 by the men who enjoy hunting and fishing and are anxious for a 

 continuance of these sports. 



A majority' of the counties represented in this meeting contain 

 wide areas of forest and woodland where trout and deer and other 

 game should abound and afford good sport, but from the thousands 

 of acres of nearly ])rimitive woodland in some of these counties 

 both trout and deer have nearly or entirely disappeared. 



