448 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



iNov. 34, 1893. 



THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION. 



The Executive Committee of tiie New York State 

 Sportsmen's Association held its quarterly meeting in 

 Syracuse last Thursday, Nov. 17. The delegates met in 

 the spacious assembly room generously put at their dis- 

 posal by Messrs. Averill & Gregory, proprietors of the 

 Yates, the new and handsomely appointed hotel of which 

 Syracuse is justly proud. In attendance, interest and 

 prevailing spirit the meeting, which was the first under 

 the June constitution, more than fulfilled the anticipa- 

 tion of those who had been most active in putting the 

 Association on the new basis. The president, Charles B. 

 Eeynolds, of Foeest aj^d Stream, was in the chair, with 

 John B. Sage, of Buffalo, secretary. The roll call showed 

 that twenty-four clubs were represented by delegates as 

 follows- 



Anglers' Association or Onondaga County— Henry Loftie. 

 Corl.laud County Sportsmen's Club— A. M. Schermerbnrn. 

 Frankfort Game and Fish Protec'ive Association— C. M. Ricb. 

 Honeove Fails Gun Club— Aaron Mather. 

 Leather Stocking Game Oluh-G. P. Mattison. 

 Onondaga County Sportsmen's Club— Harry Ayling. 

 Uundiaga Gun Club— Augustus Martin. 

 KocbesterRnd and Gun Club— W. C. Hadley. 

 Syracuse Rifle Club— A. A. Stillman. 

 Spencer Sportsmen's Club— W. S. Gavitt. 

 Syracuse Gun Club— Henry M. Chase. 

 Syracuse Indoor ShootinR Ulub— C. H. Mowry. 

 West End Rod and Gun Club-E. M. Klock. 

 Glen Haven Fish and Game Protective Association— E. D. 

 Crosley. 



Central New York Fish and Game Protective Association— W. 

 S. Gavitt. 



Caledonia Rod and Gun Club— James Annin, Jr. 

 Black River Fish and Game Protective Aasociation— W. E, 

 Wolcott. 

 Peth Green Olub-J. B. Mullen. 



Hemlock Lake Association for the Protection of Fish and Game 

 — S. E. Filkins. 

 Honeoye Falls Anglers' Association— A. Mather. 

 Cheaper Food Fish Association— F. J. Amsden. 

 CauRndaigua Anglers' Association— Homer J- Reed. 

 Anglers Association of the St. Lawrence- G. M. Skinner. 

 Niagara County Anglers' Club— Charles Bipson. 

 Associate Members -Gen. D. H. Bruce. 



In addition to which letters were read from th« Monroe 

 County- Sportsmen's Association, of Eochester, Poultney 

 Eod and Gun Club, of Poultney, and the Lake Side Gun 

 Club, of Geneva, making a total of twenty-seven. 



There were also present by invitation Secretary E. P. 

 Doyle of the Fish Commission, Chief Protector J. Warren 

 Pond, District Protectors Hawn, Northrup, Ripson, Carr, 

 Cotton; H. W. Thompson, secretary of the Anglers' Asso- 

 ciation of the St. Lawrence River, Monroe Green and 

 others, to all of whom, on motion of Mr. Am^den, was 

 extended the privilege of the floor. The following letter 

 was read from President Huntington of the Fish Com- 

 mission: 



Office of the Commissiosteks of Fisheries, State of New 

 ToBK— New Yobk. Nov. Ib.—Chas. B, Beijnolds, Pres't N. Y. 

 State Ass^n, etc.: Dbab Sir— Your cordial in\'itation to attend 

 meeting of the New York State Association for the Protection of 

 Fi.sh and Game duly received. Allow me to assure you that it 

 would afford me much pleasure to be present; that I regrat ex- 

 ceedingly that it is impossible for me to avail myself of your cor- 

 dial invitation owing to urgent engagements of an official nature. 

 With my best wishes for the worthy object of the Association, 

 yours truly, L. D. Huntington. 



It was chiefly an experience meeting. The delegates 

 had been asked to come prepared to report on the game 

 and fish interests of their sections; and both sessions were 

 for the most part taken up with such reports, supple- 

 mented in the afternoon with some accounts by the pro- 

 tectors of their work. The most encouraging and in- 

 structive lesson of the reports by delegates and protectors 

 was that of the intimate relationship and muttial depen- 

 dence of game protective organizations and the State 

 force. Numerous hearty tributes were paid the several 

 protectors for their faithful performance of duty and ef- 

 cient activity, and in return Maj. Pond and his force 

 were not wanting in appreciation of the material assist- 

 ance and co-oporation by societies. 



The committee voted to recommend to the Association 

 at the next annual meeting, Jan. 12, that the present club 

 dues, a per capita tax of 25 cents, be abolished and the 

 dues be fixed at $5 per club per annum. As the funds 

 derived from this source will be insufficient to provide 

 for the work of the Association, it is proposed to invite 

 contributions from clubs and individual?. A Financial 

 Committee to undertake such subscription was appointed, 

 consisting of Messrs. F. J. Amsden, of Rochester, D. H. 

 Bruce, of Syracuse, and H. W. Thompson, of Alexandria 

 Bay. 



A Committee on Legislation, to consider all proposed 

 amendments to the law relating to fish and game, was 

 appointed as follows: Walter S. MacGregor, Syracuse 

 (chairman); G. M. Skinner, Clavton; F. J. Amsden, Syra- 

 cuse; W. S. Gavitt. Lyons; J, S. Van Cleef , Poughkeepsie. 

 The committee will receive and consider suggestions and 

 will make their report thereon to the Association at the 

 annual meeting. 



The following resolution was submitted by Mr. Skinner, 

 and after remarks in support of its adoption by Jlessrs. 

 Doyle, Bruce and Reynolds, was unanimously adopted: 



ihYluT^t'lf' is a well known fact that the District Attorney of 

 ••^P?iJ;Lfn^®^T"'"'^^*^^?<'"'^^'' to call the noted 

 woodcock case" to trial, though supplied with un- 

 fiivi^^nL7^'}^'^i%^^ t>eing unnecessary aid 



minf^f ttfi.^a,l^°,^**°'"'l''^^^^^^ JBado for an enforce- 



ment of the Kame laws; therefore, 



mr.^u AVl''^ committee calls upon the Hon. DeLancey 

 w^n?iln°„*°^$^'^\*''^,"^'^s^'^^ '"^se to trial, and thereby show a 

 rn&°n,h«ii°^'*'il^^>^t*°.?^';'''''=«t'^e game laws as he would 

 the State. thereby discharging a duty which he owes to 



A collection amounting to $30 was taken for defraying 

 the cost of the stenographic report of the proceedings; and 

 after a fitting vote of thanks to the proprietors of the 

 Yates tor their courteous tender of the assembly room 

 and an appreciative expression of the work of the Forebt 

 AND Stream as a factor in game and fish protection, the 

 meeting adjourned. 



THE CLUB REPORTS. 

 Five minute reports were called for on the following 

 points, and a portion of the responses are here given 

 Owing to a delay m receipt of th^ others, they must be 

 ""'^"^ ^^^^ The entire report will 



S^^am!'"^"'' ^""^ ^^"^ Association by the Forest a^v 



yourllctfon? actual working of the present law in 

 dutieS""^ your local game protector performing hie 

 3. How is public sentiment in your locality? 



4. W^hat is the condition of hunting and fishing in your 

 locality? 



6. Have you dny amendments to olfei? 



Rochester Rod and Gun Club. 



W. C. Hadlby— As to the actual working of the pres- 

 ent law 1 am totally unable to answer because I shoot but 

 very little in the field. As regards the fishing portion I 

 know nothing at all because 1 scarcely ever cast a fly. Of 

 course we all take upon ourselves the opportunity of fish- 

 ing if such an opportunity comes. As far as the game is 

 concerned in Monroe county the Monroe Sportsmen's As- 

 sociation, of which Wm. S. Kimball is president, placed 

 in Monroe county a year ago something over 5,000 quail, 

 and I do not believe it was a success, although the inten- 

 tion was good. I cannot learn that a great many lived, 

 although I have heard of once in a while a few being 

 found. 



As far as the game protector ofiicially in Monroe county 

 is concerned I am inclined to think that most of his at- 

 tention has been directed to fish instead of game. I think 

 perhaps he has devoted more time to that, in fact he has 

 devoted all his time to fish protection. I have never 

 heard of his prosecuting any one for the violation of the 

 game law. As regards taking woodcock, ducks and 

 other game birds out of season, I do know that in Monroe 

 county a person may go to certain first-class restaurants 

 of our lake resorts and purchase game suppers out of sea- 

 son. The fact has baen brought to my notice a great 

 many times that in .July a person may go to Oatario 

 Beach and purchase game suppers (Ontario Beach being 

 our Coney Island), while up town in the city game sup- 

 pers can be obtained out of season, yet they do not keep 

 their practice before the public. As I said before, we 

 need a little more game protection in Monroe county, 

 such that it would have our game protected. If our 

 game protector would kindly devote a little more at- 

 tention to the protection of game certain of us would 

 love to shoot. 



I believe that Game Constable Swartz has done his 

 official duty in Monroe county, and as far as I can find out 

 I believe he has done good work in tbat way. 



Cortland County Sportsmen's Club. 



A. M. SCHERMERHORN— I agree with Mr. Hadley that 

 our local protector's work has been doHO on fish. People 

 have been shipping birds which is strictly prohibited. 

 Complaints have been made but I do not know that any- 

 thing has been done about it. The fish are well pro- 

 tected, but the game is not. There never was such a 

 scarcity of game as there is now. 



Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River. 



G. M. Skinner— The working of the present law has 

 been entirely satisfactory. We have some amendments 

 which we would like to offer at the proper time. We 

 thmk we have a very efficient protector and that he is 

 doing noble work. We are very glad to have Mr. North- 

 rup t.s our protector. We think that public sentiment in 

 our locality is growing all the while in favor of protec- 

 tion, but as has been said previously, too much attention 

 is paid to the fish. 



In regard to the fourth clause, fishing is improving. 

 Our water is international water at the foot of Lake 

 Ontario. The great trouble here is, the water being in- 

 ternational water, that 'the Canadian fishermen are 

 granted licenses, while we are strictly preserving the 

 waters on our side. Nevertheless, we have experienced 

 good results and we know that angling opportunities are 

 increasing. Never before since our association was or- 

 ganized have there been so many small bass in the river. 

 There have been exceedingly large numbers of musca- 

 longe caught this year. I accept this as evidence that 

 they are on the increase. Large numbers have been 

 caught by angling, which is very encouraging. We have 

 been told that next year a large number of wall eypdpike 

 will be put in the river. There was a time when wall- 

 eyed pike were not much found. Providing we can get 

 the amendments, which I will lay before you, we think 

 we shall have everything in condition for good results. 



I would like to add, Mr. President, as regards to the 

 shooting, that there is very little done in this line. There 

 have been but few partridges shot. I have but very little 

 change in numbers to report in regard to ducks. The 

 flight of ducks has been very large. 



Syracuse Indoor Shooting Club. 



Chas. H. Mowry— I find the actual working of tho 

 law in this section good as far as it goes, but it is too 

 liberal for the welfare of the sportsmen and should be 

 corrected. I believe the sentiment of our sportsmen is 

 that the shooting season should commence on all game 

 alike and close at the same time of the year. I would 

 like to make this as an amendment to the law in regard 

 to shooting of partridge, woodcock and duck, and also 

 rabbits. As the law stands to-day there is no protection 

 on rabbits. A man may go and shoot rabbits at any 

 time in the year, and also shoot at young birds before 

 the season opens. The season now opens on Aug. 15 

 This is far too early. I would suggest that there be no 

 shooting at any time until Sept. 1.5. Oa the Montezuma 

 Marshes there are a large number of mudhens. People 

 go to these marshes and shoot them just before the open- 

 ing of the season, and many do not hesitete to shoot any- 

 thing that flies. Therefore, I would suggest that mud- 

 hens be included in the law. Although there has been 

 no marked violation, there should be protection as well 

 on other waterfowl. 



In regard to our local protector performing his duties, 

 the Onondaga Club has prosecuted not onlv for violations 

 of the game law, but also of the fish law'. I think the 

 Onondaga County Sportsmen's Club will stand pre-emi- 

 nently high above any other society or any other organi- 

 zition in New \ ork for protection of fish and c^ame We 

 can report excellent work in the protection of both game 

 and fish by our local protector. This fact is well known 

 to a number of you here. On that point we feel that we 

 have accomphshed most satisfactory results and are 

 very happy that we can report in this manner No 

 doubt, our attorneys will have something to say regard- 

 ing our cases. Public sentiment is with us, in fact 

 shows that it 18 with us. ' 



I believe the report is that hunting in this localitv was 

 never so poor as ic has been thi^ year. The partridge has 

 been very scarce. There seem to be very few v^-oodcock! 

 Very few ducks came in here. -.^uoulk. 



I would suggest that an amendment be strongly urged 

 on the Legislature for further protection of game and fish 

 in Seneca River. The present law permits the use of nets 

 in Seneca River, in Cayuga and Wayne counties. It is 

 something that is working a great deal of harm. Our 

 lake being fed from Seneca River, and the taking the fish 

 out of the river prevents our catching them in this lake 

 in large quantities. 



As the law stands to-day in regard to shipi^ing game, it 

 is not allowed to ship any game out of the county or into 

 the county. I have no doiibt, however, that game dealers 

 in New York city and other cities do receive game and 

 fish from other counties. I think that our etforts shotild be 

 used to stop them. We must defend the law, so that there 

 can be no shipping from one county to another. This is 

 a point that we should be interested in. The non-trans- 

 portation clause is a greater protection for birds than any 

 other law that can be enforced. We see the good work- 

 ing of it right here in our own city. 



Onondaga County Sportsmen's Ciub. 



Harry Ayling— I think that Mr. Mowry has stated 

 everything that I can say, but I may mention the action 

 we have taken in the Andrews partridge case. The case 

 was prosecuted and the defendants gave bail to appear 

 before the Grand Jiuy. The case is in progress now. In 

 regard to game, sportsmen in this section think that if 

 there could be an open season for everything and a uni- 

 form close season the result would be much better. 



In regard to tishing in Seneca River. Formerly one 

 could go out and in one day catch all the fish he cared 

 for, while now some of the best fishermen can catch but 

 a very few. In former years I could catch 40 or oOlbs , 

 but this year I could not catch more than lOlbs, The 

 river is full of nets. The law allows this, and they are 

 taking advantage of it. They fish for bullheads and catch 

 a great many pickerel. I would suggest that something 

 be done in regard to fishing in Seneca River. 



Syracuse Rifle Club. 



A. A. Stillman — I can only indorse what Mr. Mowry 

 has said. 



Syracuse Gun Club. 



HKNRy M. Chase— I will answer in regard to the 

 third clausp, which is in regard to the sentiment of the 

 people. There are a great many people in this locality 

 who pretend to be friendly to this association, but who 

 are in reality hostile to the movement. 



The shooting has been very poor. The Syracuse Gun 

 Club would like to obtain such legislation as will ac- 

 complish the following results: 



1. Uniformity of the la'W'^ throughout the State as far 

 as possible. 



2. Lengthening the close (or breeding) season and short- 

 ening the open season. 



3. Regulating the use of nets, and if possible their ex 

 termination. 



Central New York Fish and Game Association 

 W. S. Gavitt— I do notknow that there is anything 

 that I can say that has not already been spoken of. We 

 are quite well pleased with the new law in many re- 

 spects. As a whole, I do not think we have many 

 amendments to offer, but there are two or three that! 

 would like to call your attention to. The law now allows 

 the shooting of rabbits and also the use of batteries in 

 Sodus Bay, and I am strongly in favor of forbidding this. 

 Shooting has been very poor in our section. In regard to 

 fyke nets on Seneca River, I think that they supidy the 

 reason for the scarcity of fish. 



Another thing, in the catching of bullheads in nets, 

 inany other fish are caught in the nets, and are thrown 

 back into the water dead. There are many clauses that 

 should not have appeared in the bill, but should have 

 been corrected, and we suffer from this! The exemption 

 permitting battery shooting on Sodus Bay was inserted 

 through the influence of a gentleman of that State, and 

 was done out of spite, and while perhaps there will be 

 no personal benefits by reason of that clause in the bill, 

 still I think tbat it shou d be stricken from the bill. 



Lakeside Gun Club, of Geneva. 



J, George Stacey wrote: "We think here that all 

 shooting (quail excepted) should begin not earlier than 

 Sept, 1 ana close Jan. 1. Quail shooting Nov. 1 to Jan. 

 1. Duck shooting will have to be kept open, I suppose, 

 but I think March 1 late. Ruffed grouse, woodcock, quail, 

 snipe, rabbils or hares, plover, in fact, all upland birds— 

 not to be sold or had in possession after Feb. 1. That 

 gives dealers five months in which to handle game. 

 Surely that is enough. One word as to the meadow larks. 

 I think the open season may begin Sept, 1. They are a 

 shy, wary bird, and take very good care to keep out of 

 gunshot. 



•'In regard to our local game protector, he is not per- 

 forming his duties as he should do. The public would 

 like to see a good man in his place— one that would do 

 something in regard to illegal fishing." 



Poultney Rod and Gun Club, 



President Charles Waciner wrote: "We would sug- 

 gest that the law on partridge be changed from Aug. 15 

 to Oct. 15 following or Nov. I. Our local game protector 

 is doing his duty. Public sentiment is generally in favor 

 of the law. Hunting has been poor, fishing fairly good. 

 We suggest there be a law prohibiting fishing on the Sab- 

 bath day." 



Monroe County Sportsmen's Association. 



Secretary Edmond Redmond wrote: "I regret that 

 I cannot be with you, but R jchester will be well repre- 

 sented in the meeting of the Executive Committee. I beg 

 to submit for your consideration an idea that occurred to 

 me yesterday, and which was published in the Post- 

 Exfmm, I am not sanguine that much good can be done 

 right away, but that something should be tried is evident 

 to all, Ttie small publice preserve scheme would call for 

 self-restraint on the part of sportsmen — and it might not 

 be of any value to them. But I submit it for what it is 

 worth: 



A member of the Monroe Sportsmen's Association suggests that 

 as an experiment the State Association should encourage clubs to 

 establish in their respective counties places of refuge for game, 

 where it would be absolutely free from danger of the gun. Tois 

 could be done, he says, to some extent by leasing suitable grounds 

 and prohibiting ahooting upon them at any time. .Such pre«erves 

 would serve as safe breeding piao^s for migratory and non- 

 migratory birds, and m time the protected game would spread 

 outaide of the preserves and afford sport on the borders. If it 



