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the owners, order a close season for one or more periods, not 

 exceeding five years each, on all wild birds and quadrupeds 

 within the area or any part thereof specified in the petition. 

 But before making any order under such petition, the com- 

 missioners shall give a public hearing upon the matter at some 

 place in or near the territory under consideration, of which 

 meeting and of their intention in the matter notice shall be 

 given by publication once a week for two successive weeks in 

 one or more newspapers published in the county or counties 

 embracing the territory, the last publication to be at least 

 seven days prior to the time fixed for the hearing. 



Section 3. In respect to any territory acquired or controlled 

 as above provided or any territory upon which a close season 

 has been ordered as above provided, the said commissioners 

 may make such use of the land, water or shore within the 

 territory as they may deem best for the purpose of improving 

 the feeding and nesting environment of birds or game, and 

 may from time to time make such rules and regulations relat- 

 ing to such territory as may seem to them proper, and such 

 rules and regulations when approved by the governor and 

 council shall have the force of laws. The said commissioners 

 are authorized to liberate birds within the limits of the said 

 reservations, and, when in their opinion such action is advisa- 

 ble, to co-operate with land owners within such territory in 

 experiments in the propagation of birds or quadrupeds. 



Section 4. The said commissioners may appoint deputies 

 to enforce the provisions of this act and any rules and regula- 

 tions made hereunder, and may authorize in writing any such 

 deputy or the owner or occupant of any land within any such 

 territory to hunt, pursue, trap, snare or kill within the said 

 territory, and under the direction of the said commissioners 

 any quadrupeds or birds which they may consider harmful to 

 birds and game or to agriculture, or to take or remove the nests 

 or eggs of any such bird. 



Section 5. If any order is made by the commissioners as 

 aforesaid establishing a close season or a preserve as above 

 provided, the commission shall cause a copy of the order to 

 be published once a week for two successive weeks in one or 



