88 EIGHTH REPORT OF THE 



digested Legislation. 



The law affecting Black Bass should be uniform, and not as at the present 

 time, one law for the waters of the Thousand Islands, where the season opens six 

 days before it does through the State generally — especially as it makes two dates 

 in one county, viz: St. Lawrence County. 



It is evident that Grouse are becoming scarcer yearly, and especially this year, 

 as last spring was so very wet and cold that it is generally believed many broods 

 were drowned; therefore it is recommended that the sale of Grouse killed in this 

 State be prohibited. 



I would also suggest prohibiting the sale of venison killed within the Adiron- 

 dack Park. This would do away with quite a few market hunters who manage 

 to get around the law relative to transportation and make a business of hunting 

 wholly for the market. While the anti-hounding law is working admirably and 

 the Deer are steadily on. the increase, the law cannot be made too strict or 

 severe as to taking or harboring dogs of any description in forests which Deer 

 inhabit, as it is an undisputed fact that nearly all species of dogs will follow a 

 Deer and aid in its capture. In view of what the State has expended in past years 

 in purchasing Deer to restock the Catskill region, the law ought to be amended so 

 as to continue a close season in all the Catskill counties for at least three years. 



I would also recommend that no Deer be taken for at least three years in 

 Oswego County, and in all that portion of Oneida, Lewis and Jefferson Counties 

 lying west of the Black River Railroad from Utica to Carthage and south of 

 Carthage, and the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad from Carthage 

 to Richfield Junction. In this locality there is a large tract of timbered land 

 well adapted for Deer where they were exterminated many years since, but in the 

 last few years several Deer have found their way into that locality and should be 

 protected. 



The law regarding the use of nets in Raritan Bay is such that it affords no 

 protection to the inhabitants of Staten Island and Greater New York, who are 

 interested in angling, as against non-resident Menhaden fishermen — mostly from 

 New Jersey. The law should be amended to either prohibit the use of nets in 

 said bay, or a law passed compelling purse-net fishermen to procure licenses, 

 which would give a protector some authority to board vessels to determine what 

 fish are being taken. The law regarding a non-resident paying a license to fish 

 or hunt in this State is not at all plain, neither does it fix an amount as a fee. 

 Therefore, as many States charge a license fee to non-residents, we would 



