FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 21 



of the State. This is reasonable because we are constantly stocking the 

 shore waters with millions of fish, greatly to the benefit of the fishermen, 

 as has been demonstrated by experience; 



Fourth. That a proper plan of sanitary inspection of the sources of 

 shellfish supply may be secured; 



Fifth. That the salt water fisheries laws may be gathered out of the 

 Forest, Fish and Game Law, and, with necessary amendments, be brought 

 together in one consistent statement of the law. Many minor reforms may 

 be brought within the scope of the amendment, such as making all rentals 

 for shellfish lands due and payable to the State upon one certain day in 

 the year ; allowing a certain number of days during which payments may 

 be made and fixing an interest charge with a time limit at the expiration 

 of which tenants neglecting or refusing to pay should be ousted. The law 

 which authorizes in certain localities all land in perpetuity upon the pay- 

 ment of one dollar an acre and providing for other long-term leases upon 

 nominal rentals should be readjusted in order that it may be a fair prop- 

 osition as between the individual and the State. Under the proposed 

 bill of last year the revenues of the State would have amounted to about 

 $40,000 as against about $5,000 under the present law. That would have 

 been reasonable. Therefore I recommend that a law be enacted to carry 

 out the propositions here expressed, and that the Shellfish Department be 

 reorganized and made adequate to carry out the provisions of and enforce 

 the law when placed upon the statute books. 



State Forests. 



The value and importance of the forest lands owned by the State are 

 constantly increasing. The diminution of water in all our streams as the 

 timber is cut away constantly warns us of the importance of keeping the 

 headwaters of our rivers and creeks protected by standing timber. Nearly 

 all the great rivers of the State rise in the Adirondack and Catskill Moun- 

 tains. The commercial value of the water in the rivers of the State, if 

 properly husbanded and used, is as great as the value of the coal mines of 

 Pennsylvania. Public sentiment is rapidly crystallizing along the line of 

 better preservation and reforestation. During the year 1907 I have had 



