$J2 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



As an appropriate ending to this article I append the following letter, which 

 speaks for itself. The writer's opportunities for gathering facts, and his well-known 

 habit of close observation, especially upon a matter in which he takes so much 

 interest, give great weight to his statements and cannot fail to interest the reader. 



Water/town, N. Y. , March 17, 1905. 



Friend Durham: — Your inquiry regarding the breeding of wild fowl in this 

 county is one that interests me very much. From reports that have come to 

 me, as president of the Sportsmen's Association, and from my own personal 

 observation, the results of stopping spring shooting in Jefferson County have far 

 exceeded the expectations of its most ardent supporters. 



The wood duck and the blue-wing teal are nesting here in larger numbers 

 each year. These birds are the first to leave us in the fall; and since the opening 

 season was extended to September fifteenth very few of them have been killed, 

 which may account for your belief that they do not nest here to any great extent. 



The increase of the black duck, or dusky mallard, has been marvelous, reports 

 showing that it nests in all sections of the county and in places where it was 

 never known to nest before. Not only have the marsh ducks nested here, but 

 the divers also — but to a lesser extent. I have undoubted proof that the whistler, 

 shelldrake, broad-bill, red-head, in fact nearly every known duck which frequents 

 our waters, have remained and nested, and also the English snipe. 



I would suggest a limit of twenty-five ducks to one gun for one day; that the 

 season open September first instead of September fifteenth; a better enforcement 

 of the game law during the summer on the lake and the St. Lawrence Reserva- 

 tion both as to the size and limit of black bass, and the wanton slaughter of 

 unpledged wild fowl by visiting sportsmen. 



Very truly yours, 



W. H. Tallott, 

 Preside?it Jefferson County Sportsmen's Association. 



I desire to call especial attention to the half-tone illustrations, from photo- 

 graphs by J. E. Stanley, Jr., of Cape Vincent, N. Y., some of which were achieved 

 under difficulties which no one but an enthusiast like himself would have over- 

 come. The pictures themselves show that they could not have been easily 

 obtained, and are, therefore, of necessity, rare and consequently valuable. Some of 

 these pictures have taken valuable prizes in contests where photographs of a similar 

 character were exhibited. 



