Conservation Commission. 125 



Having those things in mind, I would, as I said before, only 

 submit a few changes which relate to the form of the law, and 

 one or two suggestions as to its substance; for example: 



Section 177, subdivision 2, in the first line after the word 

 " fish," strike out the words " protected by law." This change 

 is rendered necessary because of the fact that fish protected by 

 law only includes fish for which a close season or size limit is 

 provided, and the law as it now stands might easily be con- 

 strued to permit the taking in any manner of such fish as carp, 

 suckers, eels, bullheads and catfish. 



In section 178, subdivision 2, the portion of this section which 

 compels fish in transportation to be accompanied by the owner 

 thereof should be amended so as to permit fish the sale of which 

 is not prohibited to be transported without being accompanied 

 by the owner. The law at the present time prohibits the sale of 

 all game, and of brook trout and black bass. In order to give 

 effect to the provisions prohibiting the sale of such fish and 

 game, it is necessary to have a stringent law regulating the trans- 

 portation of the same; but of necessity that ought not to apply 

 to fish the sale of which is not prohibited. 



The opening of the season for the taking of squirrels should 

 be October 1st, so as to correspond with the opening of the 

 season for grouse, woodcock and cottontail rabbits. The present 

 season on squirrels opening September 16th, gives the hunter an 

 excuse to go into the woods at that time, and many who are care- 

 less in the use of a gun might be provoked into shooting other 

 game out of season. 



The correspondence shows that the consensus of opinion of the 

 trappers of the State is that the muskrat season should open 

 November 1st and close April 20th. The same applies to the 

 mink and martin. At the present time the mink season opens 

 November 1st; the muskrat season, November 10th. Trappers 

 claim that in setting traps for mink November 1st, muskrats are 

 liable to be taken; therefore the law on mink, muskrat and 

 martin should be made uniform. 



There are other minor changes that should be made; but as 

 a whole the law has proven satisfactory, and as stated before, 

 should be kept practically intact until it has had further trial. 



