34 TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 



The force of protectors should be further increased by at least ten. 

 There are several counties that have no protectors, and several others where 

 more are needed. 



The law in relation to grouse and woodcock should be amended to 

 provide that not more than six birds of either kind can be killed in any one 

 day, and not more than six of either kind transported at one time. The law 

 as it stands is practically a farce, and does not protect to any great extent. 

 So far as possible the State should be divided into sections or groups 

 of counties, and a general law enacted for the open and close season for fish, 

 game, fowl and birds, affecting alike as many counties as possible in a group. 

 As the law stands now it is full of exceptions, and counties with the same 

 condition have different open seasons, which is annoying and useless. By 

 grouping the counties a great many exceptions could be stricken from the 

 law, and it would be understood and more easily enforced. 



That part of the Fish and Game Law relating to pike should be 

 amended to include all kinds of pike by whatever name they are known. 



The Legislature of 1906 came promptly to the aid of this Department 

 with appropriations necessary to carry on the work. I sincerely hope that 

 the present Legislature will in the same spirit, and with the same liberality 

 as heretofore, aid this Department in caring for the State's property and 

 interest in the forest, fish and game, all of which are totally unlike the many 

 other interests of the State, in that they are perishable and easily destroyed 

 if not promptly and properly guarded and protected. The business of the 

 Department is rapidly and constantly growing, and the work necessarily 

 increasing day by day. The greater activity in the Department has natur- 

 ally met with a corresponding increased interest among the people which 

 has added very largely to the office work and to the work of the Legal 

 Department. I trust that the improved conditions, as indicated by this 

 report, will be as pleasing to the Legislature as they are satisfactory to the 

 Department. 



All of which, with the reports of the various heads of Departments 

 hereto attached, is herewith respectfully submitted. 



James S. Whipple, 



Commissioner. 



