132 Second Annual Report of the 



their credit during the past year, and but twenty-five of those 

 have done work which shows any special activity. Investigation 

 shows that in a great many instances the appointment of a special 

 protector is desired for personal reasons. Therefore, as suggested 

 before, a non-competitive examination should be necessary before 

 appointment is made, and the number of special protectors in the 

 State should not exceed two hundred. 



Annual Meeting. 



The annual meeting of the State game protective force was 

 held in the Assembly chamber on June 4th and 5th; every regu- 

 lar protector in the State being represented, with the exception 

 of one who was sick and presented a doctor's certificate. In 

 addition there were a great many special protectors present. The 

 meeting was pronounced, and was, a success from every stand- 

 point, and the protectors derived much valuable information 

 from the addresses made. 



I wish >at this time to call attention to the remarks made by 

 Dr. Hornaday in his address to the protectors at the meeting. 

 The doctor stated in opening, that : " We are here to-day because 

 nine million good people of the state of New York believe in the 

 game laws, and urgently and sincerely desire the preservation of 

 the wild life of the great Empire State. This is a serious mat- 

 ter, or you would not be here. I think the time has come to 

 thank God and take courage. Three years ago matters were not 

 as they are now. The laws of this State were not nearly in as 

 good condition as to-day. The army of destruction was pressing 

 the wild life very hard ; but the army of the defense was fighting 

 all that it knew. And what is the state to-day ? We have made 

 great progress in the last two years, and have reason to be thank- 

 ful for the progress we have made. There is no question about 

 it, gentlemen. At this moment the State of New York, in these 

 laws and in the personnel of its force for the enforcement of 

 these laws, stands to-day pre-eminent among the States of the 

 American nation. There is no doubt about it. I have lately 

 secured the laws of all the States, and it is not an idle estimate 

 that New York to-day stands foremost of all the States of the 

 American nation in the quality and effectiveness of the game 



