1910] FOBEST, GAME A^D FISH WAEDEN. 45 



requiring owners of unenclosed lands to post same, if they desired it 

 protected from trespassers, and not require a permit from; the property 

 owner, unless same is done. 



Opsn and Closed Seasons. 



The open and closed season for certain birds and fish, seemis to be 

 one that can never be settled in this State by a general provision ap- 

 plicable to the whole State. The great variance fln altitude and climate, 

 makes this a very difficult problem. 



In some sections, the spawning season for the different kinds of fish, 

 vary from ten to forty days, and many reports have been received, during 

 the past year of fish being caught during the open season, that had not 

 yet deposited their eggs. There is no doubt but that the open season; 

 should be changed in some localities correcting this, but not having 

 completed data, at the present time, it would be impossible to make any 

 intelligent recommendation, as to when and where these changes should 

 be made. 



The open season on quail, seems to be unsatisfactory in various parts 

 of the State, it being claimed that the birds, as a rule, are not fully 

 matured during the month of November, and the consensus of opinion 

 seems to be that the open season should not begin until the 15th or 20th 

 of November, and continue until the 25th day of December, or 1st day of 

 January. 



Our present law provides that snipe cannot be killed between the first 

 day of March and the fifteenth day of October following. This was prob- 

 ably an inadvertent mistake, as under the old lawl, the present closed 

 season was the open season. As the law now stands, it prohibits the 

 shooting of snipe altogether, as they migrate South, before the season!, 

 opens on the 15th day of October, and do not return again until afteri 

 the season closes on the first day of March. 



In most sections of the State, the farmers and horticulturists seemed 

 well pleased that protection has been taken off the rabbit, as, in the past, 

 these animals have done much damage to such interests. However, 

 in some sections,, it is contended that there should be a closed 1 ^easpn 

 on the rabbit, as well as the squirrel. 



Little objection has been made to the open and closed season on 

 other animals, birds and fish, except the ones mentioned. 



Dams and Fish-Ways. 



Section 45 of our law provides "that no person, firm or corporation, 

 shall build, erect, keep or maintain in any river, creek or water course 

 in this State, which shall in any way or manner prevent or obstruct the 

 free and easy passage of fish up or down such river, creek or other* 

 water course, without placing, building or erecting on such dam or 

 other thing, a good and sufficient ladder or way so planned or built, 

 as to allow all fish to easily ascend or descend the same; and said ladder 



