364 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Long Island brant law, while bad in itself, is particularly vicious in that it 

 gives the spring duck hunters an excuse for being on the water during the 

 close season. The brant law and that part of the law permitting the pos- 

 session of ducks in January and February, should both be repealed. 



A remarkable illustration of effective game law enforcement is to be 

 found in the concourse of canvas back ducks on Cayuga Lake each spring 

 after the open season has expired. These ducks have steadily increased in 

 number until now there are several thousands of them to be found each 

 spring upon the lake. Protector William D. Ferree of Cayuga, has written 

 the following interesting letter upon the subject: 



" Thirty years ago it was only on rare occasions that a canvas back 

 duck was killed on Cayuga Lake and they did not come here in numbers 

 until about ten or twlve years ago and then only a few dozen; since that 

 time they have been gradually increasing and for the last five or six years 

 they have about doubled each year until at times there are at least 10,000 

 ducks in a single flock. 



" Since spring shooting was stopped they have wintered on the lake in 

 large numbers taking advantage of the first opening in the ice near the foot 

 of the lake and become quite tame being loth to fly when quite closely 

 approached and become accustomed to the passing trains and are an inter- 

 esting sight for the passengers. 



' When frozen off their feeding grounds which is never more than a 

 few days at a time the} 7 move up the lake to open water and come back as 

 soon as the first openings occur. 



' ' Cayuga Lake and Montezuma marshes have been famous duck shoot- 

 ing grounds in years gone by and if it were not for the unusual low water 

 that has prevailed in the fall for the last few years shooting would still be 

 good. 



" The number of ducks on Cayuga Lake this spring has created amaze- 

 ment. There have been times when forty or fifty thousand were in sight 

 some feeding within four rods of the shore and at least 75 per cent being 

 canvas backs. 



" This increase of course is mostly due to the closing of the season on 

 January 1st and is a stronger argument against spring shooting than any 

 words. 



