146 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



gation, for they are a fish that partly hibernate as cold weather approaches, and foi 

 this purpose resort in large numbers to shoals in deep water or clefts in sunken rocks, 

 and from such places, after November 1st, great numbers of large black bass are taken 

 and marketed. They afford no sport, and if allowed to remain in the water the 

 following spring would do much to keep up the supply of that species. 



Last year we vigorously urged that section 249 be repealed, as it permits the sale 

 of game the year around, and while that law remains unrepealed it is a hopeless task 

 to protect the game of the State from destruction. We again urge that this section 

 be stricken from the Game Law, that all of our game animals and birds may not suffer 

 from its blighting influence. We have found it almost impossible to obtain a con- 

 viction for killing our own game birds at any time of the year with this section in 

 force, and the law is, as we have already pointed out, unjust to sister States that have 

 non-export laws. Theoretically, the law may be all that its sponsors claim for it, but 

 in practice it is slowly but surely working the greatest injury to our native game. 



BLACK BASS EXERCISING. 



