Conservation Commission. 127 



In Europe many of the land owners pay their taxes with the 

 money derived from the leasing of the shooting privileges on 

 their lands. When the American farmer begins to realize the 

 economic value of game, it will be a great help to the sportsmen 

 of the State. 



Tagging of Trout. 



While the tagging of trout raised in private hatcheries has only 

 been in actual operation a few months, it has proved successful 

 as a check on the illegal traffic in wild trout, thereby aiding in 

 the preservation of our native trout. The system of allowing 

 the sale of hatchery raised trout during the entire year after the 

 same has been tagged with a machine furnished by the depart- 

 ment is giving general satisfaction to the hotel and restaurant 

 keepers who deal in this commodity, as they feel perfectly safe in 

 handling trout at any time, since the tag assures them of its 

 legality. The tagging of trout also has a tendency to do away 

 with violations, inasmuch as a dealer will not aid a fish pirate in 

 disposing of his illegal goods, taking the chances of being fined 

 for a violation of the law, when he can by a legal method satisfy 

 his customers' wants. The tagging of trout is also proving a 

 revenue for the State, as a charge is made of three cents per 

 tag, the tags being furnished by the department to the hatchery, 

 and the hatchery is operated under license issued by the Con- 

 servation Commission. During the short time that this law has 

 been in operation, the department has received for tags and 

 machines $1,47^.64. At first this law was subject to some criti- 

 cism from the owners of private hatcheries; but when they have 

 come to realize that the sale of trout from a hatchery was allowed 

 during any time of the year instead of as formerly during the 

 open season for wild trout, they have become reconciled to the 

 law. It is working a further benefit to the private hatcheries 

 in the State of ISTew York, as formerly there were about sixteen 

 firms sending trout into the State. At the present time there 

 are only eight machines in operation. As the hatcheries located 

 out of the state are finding a market for their trout elsewhere, 

 this works a benefit to the State hatcheries who are operating 

 under the trout tagging law. 



