198 Third Annual Report of the 



sportsmen and farmers who have made proper application to the 

 Conservation Commission, at Albany, 1ST. Y., requesting that such 

 allotments be made to them. 



With each allotment of eggs is sent a report to be filled out by 

 the applicant which is to be returned to the Conservation Com- 

 mission to ascertain the number of eggs received, the number of 

 birds hatched, also the number of birds reared to maturity for 

 liberation; and the average results of the returned reports show 

 that about 50 per cent, of the birds were reared to maturity, which 

 is considered excellent. 



It is pleasing to see the same applicants coming back each year 

 for their regular allotment of eggs, which goes to show the mani- 

 fest interest the farmers and sportsmen have taken in such dis- 

 tributions; and with their aid and a sufficient number of eggs the 

 State could be completely populated with pheasants. It is of in- 

 terest to note the popularity of the distribution of birds and eggs 

 throughout the State, and the interest that the farmers and sports- 

 men have taken in the propagation of the same, taking into con- 

 sideration that during the year of 1912, 4,204 applications were 

 made to the Conservation Commission for allotments of birds 

 and eggs. 



The birds that are sent out from the farm for distribution are 

 raised under the most natural conditions, having never been within 

 a pen or yard of any kind and arc practically the same as wild 

 birds, being allowed to run at large with the mother, a common 

 barn-yard hen, from the time they are hatched. Most of the young 

 birds are reared a mile from habitation and with their foster 

 mothers take the advantage of all the neighbors' adjoining farms. 



When these birds are about half grown, at which time they are 

 fully able to care for themselves, they are trapped up and sent 

 out for distribution. The distribution of birds is made from the 

 farm during the months of July, August and September. Each 

 allotment of birds is carefully packed and sent out from the farm 

 to the applicant with full instructions as to their liberation. About 

 a thousand baskets were shipped from the farm this past season, 

 and out of this number the reports show that only one bird had 

 died while in transit. 



