Report 



Of tl)C 



Forest Tist) and Game Commission 



1903 



To tl)e Honorable fl)e legislature: 



IN transmitting the Ninth Report the Forest, Fish and Game Commission calls 

 your particular attention to the facts and statistics presented, which are calcu- 

 lated to show the actual value received by the people from that portion of the 

 business of the State entrusted to its care. 



Every department (Forestry, Fisheries and Game Protection) is productive of 

 some return, and in each case the income is greater than the appropriation made 

 annually for its support. 



The Adirondack forest, concerning which a separate and more extended report 

 will be presented to your honorable body later in the session, is a source of great 

 revenue to at least ten of the counties of the State, and the purchase of land in 

 this region has been a most valuable investment. Up to January 1, 1903, the 

 State had paid for Adirondack lands, exclusive of tax sales, $2,329,101.60. The 

 receipts from visitors to this region during the yeaj 1903 amounted to $3,999,139. 

 This large sum of money was distributed lirectly to the people, and was spent by 

 thousands of visitors who sought the forest for rest, recreation or health. 



Within the woodland territory in particular, and also in many other localities, 

 are located almost innumerable lakes and streams which are stocked liberally from 

 the system of fish hatcheries which the State has established. To these waters 

 flock annually thousands of fishermen who are able and willing to spend money 

 freely in pursuit of their favorite pastime. It is no longer disputed that the 

 continual replenishing of our waters with fish is necessary to keep pace with 

 the steady growth of our population. Without such attention as is given to public 

 waters by the Commission, it is conceded by those who have studied the problem 



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