1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 289 



open season of 1906. I, therefore, refrained from opposing this bill 

 before the Legislature, and urged the Governor to sign it when it came 

 before him. I am now satisfied this is one of the best measures ever 

 placed upon the books of Pennsylvania. * * i am certain that no 

 more deer have lost their lives, in violation of law, since the passage of 

 this act than would have been killed illegally during the same period 

 had there been an absolutely closed season. * * * i am confident the 

 great majority of hunters respect this law. * * * It is, of course, a 

 new idea, and very trying to deer hunters in this state to hold their 

 fire when a fine doe or deer of any description stands in front of them. 

 Yet this was almost invariably done. * * * From data collected I am 

 satisfied that the number of bucks killed last year did not exceed one- 

 fourth of the number of deer killed during the fall of 1906, and would 

 not exceed two-thirds of the number of buck's killed during that season. 

 * * * The great majority of the deer hunters I have met last fall, both 

 during the season and since that time, although frequently disap- 

 pointed in not securing a deer, expressed themselves as satisfied with 

 the law. The feeling of personal 'security surrounding each one appar- 

 ently far outweighed any pleasure they might have derived through the 

 killing of deer. * * * j noticed that, almost without exception, the 

 opponents of this law were men who did not realize the value of this 

 act as a preserver of human life, or a man whose sole desdre was to kill, 

 no matter what the result might be to others. * * * The number of 

 deer killed in this Commonwealth during 1906 was in the neighbour- 

 hood of 800. Of this number, perhaps 350 were bucks and the remain- 

 ing 450 were does. From positive reports received from several coun- 

 ties not more than 200 bucks were killed last year, or at least dur- 

 ing the past season, throughout the entire state, and I believe I am 

 within bounds when I say that not more than thirty does will be 

 found to have lost their lives. * * * jf these figures are correct, 

 and the same ratio of killing was followed as last year, we have 

 spared to us about 150 bucks and about 420 does, or 570 deer in all. 

 The majority of does give birth to two fawns, so that I think an esti- 

 mate of one and one-half fawns to a doe for this year would be fair 

 and reasonable. Six hundred and thirty fawns, added to 420 does 

 and 150 bucks, will give us 1,200 deer to start with this fall that we 

 would not have had under the old law. This seems to be a good show- 

 ing, and one that would justify a continuance of this law, were its 

 sole and only object to preserve and increase our deer; but as the 

 chief purpose of this act was the preservation of human life and 

 limb, this addition to deer life in the state is only incidental. Still it 

 means much." 



The State Fish and Game Commissioner of Vermont, in his 1908 

 report, writes: 



" The prime reason for the rapid increase undoubtedly has been 

 in the protection of does, aaiowing deer with horns to be taken only. 



