and the Maritime Provinces. 333 



much annoyed by the ravages caused by wild animals in their fields. The 

 deer invade the fields and browse on the grains, and they have become so 

 tame that it is scarcely practicable to drive them away ; they mingle with 

 the herds of cattle, and are encountered on the main roads, close to the 

 towns. The porcupines are equally the objects of the farmers' maledic- 

 tions, because of their numbers and the noise which they make by fighting 

 around the farmhouses at night. Partridges are very abundant also, and 

 cause serious devastation among fruits and certain vegetables. Bears are 

 numerous and encroaching, and are frequently met with in orchards, 

 devouring fruits near dwellings on the roads, and in sight of villages and 

 towns. These animals also have become so familiar that they are not 

 frightened away by the sight of man. 



" This exceptional and alarming abundance of wild animals is due to 

 the laws for the protection of game ; laws which protect certain species at 

 all times for a period of years, which will not expire until 1900, and which 

 severely punish every violation. Other species may be hunted during an 

 open season, but outside of its limits they are vigorously protected. Thus 

 it is apparent that there are countries in which the protection of game is 

 practicable and effective, a statement which is open to not a little doubt in 

 France, if we may judge from the complaints of the hunters." 



For two weeks before the opening season, hunters began to pour in 

 from outside the State, camping out, or occupying small hotels in the 

 vicinity where the deer were said to be most abundant. 



In order to have the restrictions regulating hunting observed, notably 

 the requirement that all deer must have horns, a reward was offered by 

 the Vermont Fish and Game League and the Fish and Game Commis- 

 sioners to any person who should give evidence leading to a conviction of 

 any one violating the law. This standing offer, published extensively 

 throughout the State, undoubtedly had a good effect. The law was pretty 

 well observed. If any one killed a doe, it was not carried out of the 

 woods. Wardens employed to see the law enforced, report finding a few 

 does left in the woods or open pastures, where they were shot down. Per- 

 haps six or eight does without horns were killed during the month. A 

 record kept by postmasters in every small town in the State, and submitted 

 to the Fish and Game Commissioners at the end of the season, shows that 

 the total number of deer killed and reported was one hundred and three. 

 The writer believes that enough more were killed to make the number 

 about one hundred and twenty-five. 



To show which sections of the State afford the best hunting, the 

 number of deer killed in October, 1897, is given by counties, as follows: 



Addison county . . 1 Chittenden county . 4 



Bennington " . . 6 Essex " . . 6 



Caledonia " . . 5 Franklin " . 2 



