FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 157 



Condition of ti)z ]$aw. 



I would not recommend any extensive revision of the game laws, now that 

 they appear to be in very good shape. Some minor changes as to phraseology 

 and to make plainer a few sections are, however, needed. One relating to 

 Jamaica Bay and adjacent waters, where the use of nets is prohibited, is especially 

 necessary for the benefit of the numerous anglers who visit that locality and who 

 cannot fish with safety outside in the ocean. The law relative to the licensing of 

 nets, especially in the Great Lakes, should be changed, as the license fee is now 

 practically nothing. This is not the case in other States bordering on Lake Erie, 

 particularly in Pennsylvania, where the State derives a large revenue from these 

 licenses, and where they charge according to the tonnage of the boat. The license 

 law was first advocated for the protection of residents of New York State, but 

 fishermen from Ohio and Pennsylvania evade the law by coming into this State, 

 registering their boats and giving a bill of sale (in some instances) to residents 

 of this State, who apply for a license, which may cover a gang of gill nets one 

 mile long, at a cost of only one dollar. 



The size of the mesh of nets, especially in Lake Erie, should be increased to 

 at least a one and one half inch bar as against the present mesh of one and 

 one eighth inches. This is advocated by the fishermen themselves, who claim 

 that myriads of small fish that are of no value are caught and killed in the 

 gill-nets, which must tend to lessen the fish supply. 



If possible, something should be done to induce the Legislature of Vermont 

 to pass uniform laws with this State governing the fishing on Lake Champlain, 

 which is interstate water, and in which the residents of this State are much 

 interested. Our own laws absolutely prohibit the use of nets, but their last 

 Legislature, instead of repealing a law which allows the use of nets in the lake, 

 as had been promised, not only failed to do so, but passed a law which allows 

 the taking of Black Bass in the lake during the entire year as against a close 

 season in this State from January first to June fifteenth. As there is but an 

 imaginary line between the two States, it is difficult to enforce the laws of this 

 State on the lake. It might be possible for the Legislature to appoint a commis- 

 sion to act with a commission from Vermont to agree upon some uniform law 

 and give each State concurrent jurisdiction over the lake, as was done in the 

 eighties by this State and Pennsylvania over the Delaware River where it divides 

 the two States. 



