360 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



convictions for violation of the game law, but also for the general excellence 

 of his work. In this latter respect his diligence in patroling his territory 

 and his success in creating a wholesome public sentiment in favor of the 

 law, are given due weight; but under the present system no protector 

 who does not get convictions is considered to have made good. There is 

 no section of the State in which game law violations do not occur, 

 and it is only reasonable to believe that a man who possesses the 

 proper qualifications to be a game protector will of necessity in the course 

 of his work round up some of the violators. It should be remarked 

 in passing that many of the ideas upon which the organization of the 

 force of protectors is based have originated with the assistant and division 

 chiefs. 



Once a year during the winter a convention of all the protectors is held 

 in Albany. The chief business of this convention is to school the protectors, 

 both new and old, in matters connected with the enforcement of the law. 

 The business end of securing convictions is given the most attention. At 

 the last convention a mock trial was held, presided over by Judge Parsons, 

 based upon an important case which had been tried in the Central New 

 York division. Papers were read by some of the protectors on features of 

 game law enforcement, and much of the time was occupied by a general 

 discussion of legal questions of interest to the entire force of protectors. 

 Besides the address of Commissioner Whipple, four notable addresses were 

 made to the convention by men eminent in the cause of game protection, 

 including an illustrated lecture on birds by Frank M. Chapman of the Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History. Dr. William T. Hornaday, Director of 

 the New York Zoological Park, spoke on the history of big game protection 

 in this country; Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, State Fish Culturist, spoke on the 

 propagation and stocking of fish, and Mr. Andrew D. Meloy spoke on the 

 subject of game law enforcement. 



Hunting Licenses 



In 1908, which was the first year of the new law, the hunting licenses 

 were not distributed until June. One hundred and twenty thousand and 

 ten dollars was received in payment for licenses sold up to January 1, 1909. 



