1/2 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



Suggested Legislation. Legislation at this time must be largely 

 experimental and provisional because of the following reasons : 



i. Defective knowledge of the numbers, rate of increase, and 

 general principles of management. 



2. Practical difficulties of controlling the number to be killed. 



On account of these difficulties two plans are suggested, with a 

 marked preference for the first. 



1. That the officials of the Conservation Commission be author- 

 ized to take, not to exceed 1,000 beavers in Herkimer and Hamilton 

 counties, and the pelts or live animals be sold. That the beavers 

 killed, in the main, be taken where they are doing the greatest dam- 

 age, and when the fur is in the prime, say between December 15 and 

 not later than February 15. 



Beaver skins are not really prime until late in the season, and 

 while the}- remain prime until about May and the animals are more 

 easily trapped when the streams open in the spring, trapping at that 

 time would unquestionably result in the taking of many pregnant 

 females. 



It is possible that a toll of 1,000 would be too heavy a 

 drain upon the species, if it were to be taken annually; and the 

 possibility also exists that a greater number could be taken without 

 harmful effect. Since a true estimate of the beaver population is 

 not possible the effect of the first season's trapping should serve 

 as a guide in determining future action. 



That pending investigation of the trout problem the Conserva- 

 tion Commission give special attention to particularly valuable trout 

 streams and retard the spread of the beaver on or to such streams. 



2. While the most accurate method would be for the Conserva- 

 tion Commission to employ a certain number of experienced State 

 trappers to reduce the number of beavers I believe .that in a settled 

 region like that of the Adirondacks the local inhabitants might be 

 justly given consideration. Their good will is also of importance, 

 and the sale of the fur would compensate for damages the beaver 

 may occasionally cause them. 



That a short open season, about one month, be declared on 

 beaver in Herkimer and Hamilton counties. That in the first open 

 season the maximum number of beaver to be taken be limited to 

 one thousand individuals, and that the number that any one person 

 may take be limited. 



That the open season begin not earlier than December 15. and 

 close not later than February 15. 



