56 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



are involved, and even some women who deliberately 

 stood upon runways in wait for deer that were being 

 run by dogs. Efforts to correct the old outworn point 

 of view rgarding wild life — a point of view that would 

 make game the property of whoever can get it, regard- 

 less of law — must accordingly be directed to every class 

 and locality, (pp. 47-48) . 



Governor Smifh went through that long hearing with per- 

 fect patience and fairness. Everyone had an opportunity to 

 say what he came to say. 



At the close of the hearing a most unexpected incident oc- 

 curred. Governor Smith invited the writer and Commis- 

 sioner Pratt into his private office, for a heart to heart con- 

 ference. A little later on Chief Game Protector Legge was 

 sent for. It was quickly revealed that the Chief Executive 

 felt himself in a very difficult, and even painful, situation ; 

 but on one point his mind was perfectly clear. Something 

 new must be done! 



As nearly as we can recall them, these were the Gover- 

 nor's words : 



"Gentlemen, this deer-hunting situation now has reached 

 a point where it is intolerable. The amount of unlawful doe- 

 killing in the Adirondacks is very destructive to the deer, 

 and besides all that, it is a shame and a disgrace to this state. 

 Something different must be done about it! With people in 

 the Adirondacks feeling as they do, and doing as they now 

 are doing, it would take 1,000 game wardens to enforce the 

 law, instead of 125. 



"Now, we really must try some other plan. As things are 

 now, you admit that probably from 3,000 to 5,000 female 

 deer are killed every year, and under this new bill it couldn't 

 be much worse than that! 



"We are asked to try this new plan for a year. Its spon- 

 sors insist that it will help the situation, and be less hard on 

 the female deer. I think we ought to try it, for one season. 



