Conservation Commission 199 



The Chinese ring-neck pheasants which are being reared at the 

 State game farm are raised from stock that originally came from 

 Oregon, where these birds were first introduced over sixty years 

 ago. 



The practicability of stocking the State of A T ew York with 

 pheasants has been fully demonstrated in many of its sections 

 and there is today an open season for the shooting of these birds 

 in forty-one counties. From these same counties where there has 

 been an open season for several years good authorities state that 

 the supply of birds has increased and that the notable increase 

 of the pheasants throughout the State can be attributed to the 

 results of the supply from the game farm at Sherburne. 



The pheasant, therefore, daily assumes a growing importance 

 as a game bird of the future. It is the most prolific game bird 

 that we have ; it is hardy ; it furnishes good sport, and when it is 

 killed it supplies a good meal for a small family. The cock 

 birds weighs from three and one-half to four pounds. I believe 

 more attention should be given in the future to propagating and 

 distributing pheasants. In no other way can bird shooting in a 

 large part of Kew York State be enjoyed. 



Nettie g Lice x ses 



The statistical table of the amounts collected for netting licenses 

 for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1912, to September 30, 

 1913, shows a substantial increase over the preceding year. This 

 was brought about by an enactment of law which provided for the 

 issuing of licenses for the taking of deleterious fish, under the 

 direction of a (Superintendent of Inland Fisheries. 



I believe that the law should be so amended as to allow the tak- 

 ing of deleterious fish from all the waters of the State, except 

 those which are inhabited by trout, or where it would work a 

 direct injury to the hook and line fishing. In the vicinities 

 where netting has been allowed, all the reports available show 

 that the public have been greatly in favor of the same, and that 

 a bountiful supply of fish for table use has been obtained, where 

 heretofore it was impossible to get a supply of the cheaper food 



