84 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



served time in jail at the rate of one day for every dollar, amounting to 490 

 days served. 



This Department has every reason for congratulation upon the results achieved 

 during the past year, especially in the percentage of convictions, which demonstrates 

 that public sentiment is increasing in favor of forest, game and fish protection and 

 the enforcement of the laws governing the same. The number of protectors and 

 foresters is insufficient in certain localities to successfully enforce the laws. This is 

 particularly true of the Adirondack^, where at least eight more protectors and for- 

 esters could be advantageously employed, and two on the east side of the Hudson 

 river, between Saratoga and Long Island sound, a distance of about 150 miles, 

 where there are many small lakes and streams abounding in fish, together with the 

 Hudson river, where more protection is required. Also the large tracts of second- 

 growth timber and swamps, where game birds are very plentiful, and the only pro- 

 tection given this last-named section is by protectors from other localities, who are 

 sent there at considerable expense, and as a protector's expense account is limited 

 by law and is quite insufficient for his own locality, he is not in a position to cover a 

 large territory. 



I wish to make special mention of the Anti-hounding Law and its excellent 

 result as a protective measure. I can assure the public that this law, which has only 

 been in force three years, has resulted in at least fifty per cent, increase of deer in 

 the Adirondack^. It is growing in favor every year, and should remain permanently 

 on the statute books. While I do not pretend that this law is not violated (for that 

 would not be believed by any one, as all laws on our statute books are violated at 

 all times), I will emphatically assert that there is not one-tenth the number of viola- 

 tions that some would like to make us believe. 



It is with pleasure that I allude in this report to the generous co-operation of the 

 Chief Executive of the State for the interest he has taken thus far in legislation 

 affecting this Department, and his desire that all laws for the protection of forests, 

 fish and game be rigidly enforced. It was a pleasure during the session of the last 

 Legislature to know that the Executive of the State was cognizant of and interest- 

 ing himself in all legislation relating to forests, fish and game, not only for the rod 

 and reel, but for the market fisherman, who, unless specially provided for by the 

 Legislature, would allow his greed to exterminate everything before him. One 

 measure which became a law during the past year, viz., the power of search or 

 examination given protectors, where they have cause to believe that fish or game 

 are concealed in violation of law, has done more during the past summer to deter 

 violations than any law heretofore enacted, and without hardship to any person. 



