Jan. SO, 1894.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



81 



"Vast game preserves worth millions axe to pay no taxes, 

 while the Sta,te is made the gamekeeper of these same 

 preserves, and the property of the rest of the State is taxed 

 to pay the expense." 



The Forest Commission in its last annnual report after 

 alluding to the exchanging of lands through the medium 

 of sales and purchases says: "But if the State ever ac- 

 quires enough territory within the Adirondack and Cat- 

 skill regions to protect the important interests dependent 

 on the preservation of the forests located there, it will 

 have to inaugurate some more liberal and comprehensive 

 plan. After making ample allowance for any increase 

 ia acreage arising from exchanges, three-fourths of the 

 Adirondack forest will still remain in private hands and 

 beyond the control of the State. About 500,000 acres are 

 owned by private clubs; but as these clubs, with few ex- 

 ceptions, have granted large timber rights to prominent 

 lumber firms, the outlook for the private preserves is but 

 little better than that of the forest at large." 



The commissioners again recommend as in previous 

 annual reports, the appropriation of money for the pur- 

 chase of forpst lands in the Adirondack and Catskill 

 regions, and strenuously urge that the amount be com- 

 mensurate with the importance of the interests involved. 



There seems to be no longer any question as to the 

 necessity of preserving the forests around the head- waters 

 of the Hudson and other large streams having their 

 source in the Adirondacks, and public sentiment in favor 

 of an Adirondack State Park has become so strong that 

 our Senators and Assemblymen cannot afford to disregard 

 it. The times appear to be ripe for prompt, energetic and 

 liberal legislation along this line, and it is hoped that 

 every member of the associations here represented will 

 constitute himself a committee of one to urge our legis- 

 lators to push the good work onward. 



The members of the Forest Commission are deserving 

 of commendation for the efforts they have put forth in 

 behalf of the Adirondack Park. The one tiling lacking 

 to secure what is desired is the funds to enable them to 

 purchase lands. If the Commissioaers had the money at 

 their disposal there is no doubt the State would soon have 

 a park to be proud of. W. E. Wolcott, Chairman. 



The following resolutions, which accompanied the 

 report, were unanimously adopted: 



Resolved, That the New York State Association for the Protection 

 of Fish and Game, in convention assembled, does hereby express its 

 couvictiou that the State should take, by right of eminent domain, 

 lands within the limits of the Adirondack' Park, as rapidly as funds 

 therefor can be provided. That the State Legislature is hereby 

 earnestly requested at its present session to take steps to provide for 

 liberal appropriation for the purchase of such lands or for bonding 

 the State to obtain funds for such purpose. That it is the sense of 

 this convention that no timber should be cut and sold from the Adiron- 

 dack Park, and that the exemption of club lands in that region from 

 taxation is unwise. 



A Testimonial to Chief Pond. 



A pleasant incident of the meeting was the outcome of 

 a suggestion which came originally we believe from Mr. 

 Henry Loftie. During the afternoon session (Mr. C. H. 

 Bannister having lured Chief Protector Pond down into 

 the subterranean vaults of the Yates), Mr. C. H. Mowry 

 addressed the convention in a neat speech testifying to 

 the good work done by Mr. Pond, as an officer who was 

 doing his duty not for what there was in it, but because 

 sincerely interested in that work; and then Mr. Mowry 

 proposed that a fund be contributed then and there to 

 provide a gold watch, to he given as a token of the As- 

 sociation's regard. It was no sooner said than done. The 

 district protectors were invited to join, and in a few 

 moments the required amount was in Mr. Mo wry 's hands, 

 including a dollar which some one had collected down 

 stairs from Maj. Pond himself under pretense that a 

 watch was to be given to Secy Sage. Messrs. Bannister 

 and Mowry repaired to the jewelry store of Messrs. Baker 

 & Lathrop, and purchased a handsome watch. The 

 formal presentation was made in his usual happy vein by 

 Gen. Bruce, who spoke not only for the Association, but 

 for all good citizens of the State, when he assured Maj. 

 Pond of the esteem in which he is held for his record, 

 and exhorted him to renewed watchfulness. Respond 

 ing, Maj. Pond said that his own success and that of his 

 staff had been in large measure due to the support of the 

 Association, and of local societies, particularly the 

 Anglers' Association of Syracuse. It is quite the correct 

 thing now, when one meets Maj. Pond, to ask him what 

 time it is. 



Officers for 1 894. 



Messrs. Amsden, Gavitt and Skinner as a committee on 

 nominations suggested as President, Gen. D. H. Bruce of 

 Syracuse; for V ice-President, C. H. Bannister of Auburn ; 

 for Secretary-Treasurer, John B. Sage of Buffalo; and in 

 presenting these names the committee spoke in high terms 

 of the deep interest Gen. Bruce had shown in the Associ- 

 ation and the part he had taken in putting the organiza- 

 tion on its present basis; he was the father of the Asso- 

 ciation, and the hour had come for recognizing his claim 

 to the honors of the office. The ticket was elected by 

 acclamation, and in its choice of officers for 1894 the Asso- 

 ciation has given assurance of a year of usefulness and 

 accom plishment. 



The committee on legislation was retained, with the 

 substitution of Mr. Strough in Mr. Skinner's place 

 the chairman is Walter MacGregor, Esq., Syracuse, and 

 to him should be sent all suggestions respecting desux d 

 amendments. 



New York Association for the Protection of Game. 



New York, Jan. 9.— Gn invitation of the Hon. Robert 

 B. Roosevelt, the forty-ninth annual meeting of the New 

 York Association for the Protection of Game was held at 

 the Gerlach on the evening of Jan. 8. 



After discussing the usual excellent dinner, during which 

 the president congratulated the club on the progress made 

 and the great improvement in public opinion regarding 

 the game protection, the association adjourned to the meet- 

 ing room, where the usual routine of business was trans- 

 acted, and the following officers elected for the year 1894: 

 President, Hon. Robt. B. Roosevelt; Vice-President, Col. 

 Alfred Wagstaff ; Counsel and Treasurer, Thos. N. Cuth- 

 bert; Secretary, Wakeman Holberton; Executive Commit- 

 tee— E. G. Blackford, chairman; C. F. Imbrie, Wm. Car- 

 pender. and the officera of the Association. 



Mr. Edson Bradley and Col. E. A. McAlpin were unani- 

 mously elected members of the Association. Mr. Austin 

 Corbin gave an interesting account of his success in stock- 

 ing his New Hampshire preserve with elk, deer, moose, 

 wild boars, buffalo, etc. W, Holberton, Sec'y. 



GENESEE VALLEY ASSOCIATION. 



The annual meeting of the Genesee Valley Fish and 

 Bird Protective and Propagating Association was held last 

 week in the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. _ The 

 attendance of members was so large that it is evident 

 great interest is being taken in the work oi the Association. 

 The Association is not an old one, having been organized 

 only about a year ago. Herbert Wads worth, of Avon, 

 the president of the Association, occupied the chair. Sec- 

 retary F. J. Amsden read this very encouraging report of 

 the executive committee; 



The executive committee has met seven times during the year with 

 full attendance at each meeting. Three hundred and forty-five mem- 

 bers have been elected and 147 have paid their dues for 1S93, $1 each. 



A digest of the game laws, both for fish and birds, was printed on 

 paper and cloth and posted throughout the counties. This the com- 

 mittee think is the most effective method of using the funds. It helps 

 to remove the excuse often made for violation, that is, ignorance of 

 the laws, and we would recommend to our successors the continuance 

 of the practice. 



The committee has had presented to them a proposition from Mr. 

 Wadsworth, offering to set apart a strip of land in Livingston and 

 Monroe counties, bordering on the Genesee river, amounting to one 

 hundred or more acres for the use of this Association, for the purpose 

 of forestry, game and fish. Your executive committee gave it careful 

 consideration at several meetings, but on account of the financial 

 disturbances nothing was done. We hope our successors will take up 

 its consideration at an early day. for it certainly is a very generous 

 offer. 



Last spring the Conesus Lake Association had a severe struggle, 

 with the violators, in which the association was successful. To aid 

 them your board of directors made them a contribution of $35. 



Your association has been instrumental in the appointment of 

 several special game protectors, and in each case they have proved 

 good men and done excellent work. 



The deputy game protector, George M. Schwartz, though he has 

 an extended field, has been very active and efficient.. During the 

 year he has captured 21 4 nets, valued at $3,297, made thirty-one arrests 

 and fines to the amount of $692 were paid. Irondequoit Bay, which 

 has his special attention, is now practically free of netters, and fish- 

 ing is greatly improved, and now that the sewerage of the city has 

 been diverted, it will in the future be again a great resort for our 

 citizens in recreation and fishing. 



The ponds west of Charlotte have been guarded by Special Officer 

 Marshall. He has captured thirty-four nets, worth §550, and made 

 sixteen arrests and colleced $173 in fines. The upper river aud Black 

 Oreek are in the hands of Special Officer Brooks and his work begins 

 to show by improved fishing. This is a water that should be kept 

 free from all illegal fishing. Its nearness to the city affords angling 

 for many of our citizens who cannot spare much time It is a resort 

 for the mechanic's evenings aud holidays, and must be to them a 

 source of pleasure. The park commissioners express an interest and 

 jo in with us in its protection. 



Honeoye and Hemlock lak- shave had the oversight of Special Officer 

 Lyman, who has done well. He has the assistance and encouragement 

 of the Hemlock Lake Association, which has a large membership, and 

 who are determined to stop unlawful fishing. The lake is noted for its 

 -salmon, trout, black bass and perch. All it needs is protection to 

 afford good fishing. The wall-eyed pike planted by the State Com- 

 missioners are beginning to be caught there. 



Conesus Lake, with its many cottagers, is another resort for many 

 people from Rochester and elsewhere. It is a prolific water for pike, 

 bass and perch. If netting can be stopped it will abound with them. 

 The Conesus Lake Association is determined that there shall be no 

 illegal fishing in it. Special Officer De LaVergne is the special pro- 

 tector of this water and is giving satisfaction. 



Your committee feels very much encouraged with the work that has 

 been done during the past year, and are confident that the good fish- 

 ing the coming season wi)l be the proof of it. 



The State Fish Commission fully appreciates our Association and 

 have and will continue to plant considerable numbers of young fish in 

 the various waters. A plant of muskalonge was put in Conesus Lake 

 last season and ought to prove a great addition to the water when 

 they arrive at maturity. 



While efforts have been chiefly directed to the protection of fish, we 

 have not lost sight of the birds and close watch has been kept on the 

 dealers to see that the laws were not infringed upon. We have also 

 warned and watched the express companies to prevent the carrying 

 cf game from county to county, except in the possession of the person 

 who shot them. This, we think, is one of the best provisions of the 

 law and will help to prevent much of the market shooting that has 

 done so much in the past to exterminate our birds. 



Considerable thought has been given to the subject of transplanting 

 birds, and we have endeavored by correspondence to get the experi- 

 ence of those, who have tried it, and hope that something may soon be 

 done in this line. One of our members, Mr. Wadsworth of Geneseo, 

 has been doing something in the line of pheasants. Your committee 

 would suggest that this Association make another attempt, giving 

 them out to some of our country mem oers who can and will give them 

 the proper attention. 



The report was adopted. Mr. Amsden called the atten- 

 tion of the Association to the action taken by the Central 

 New York Fish and Game Protective Association which 

 at its meeting at Auburn a few days ago adopted a reso- 

 lution favoring the repeal of the law passed in 1892 pro- 

 hibiting the shooting of quail for a period of five years. 

 The Central New York Association desired that the 

 Genesee Valley Association take similar action and to 

 bring the matter before the meeting Mr. Amsden offered 

 a resolution declaring it to be the sense of the meeting 

 that the prohibitive law should be repealed. 



A. E. Babcock spoke against the repeal of the law. He 

 reported having seen during the past season while out 

 shooting a number of bevies of quail in this county. He 

 was sure that if the law was repealed these quail would 

 soon be shot away. 



The quail question has not been satisfactorily settled in 

 this county. Some years ago some quail were procured 

 from the South and liberated in this county, but they did 

 not do well and it was generally thought by sportsmen 

 that the winter of this latitude was too severe for them . 

 It was supposed that none of these quail had survived, 

 but Mr. Babcock's report shows that some of them did. 

 With the information furnished by Mr. Babcock before it, 

 the Association decided that it would be unwise to ask for 

 the repeal of the prohibitive law on quail, and Mr. Ams- 

 den withdrew his resolution and a resolution in favor of 

 the continuance of the law upon the statute books was 

 adopted. 



iue quail subject being up, Mr. Amsden read an inter- 

 esting lett r from W. C. Witherbee, of Port Henry, N.Y., 

 in which he gives his experience in the transplanting of 

 quail: 



1 tried the experiment here when we had extremely 

 cold weather at times, as well as deep snows, with a great 

 deal of doubt as to the outcome of the experiment. The 

 results have exceeded my expectations. I bought some 

 ten dozen West Virginia birds, from the mountainous 

 parts, having them arrive here the last of March and fore 

 part of April in two lots, and only know of six birds hav- 

 ing died. I put them out immediately on their arrival 

 near good cover, where I had first scattered some small 

 grain, in lots of from four to six in one place, not trying 

 especially to liberate cocks and hens equally divided. I 

 kept track of them during the summer of '92 and they 

 mated and hatched out good big bevies, and the county 

 was full of them, although many of them that I first 

 liberated crossed the lake and nested in Vermont. Along 

 about October a great many began to travel, and I heard 

 of bevies being seen miles away, mostly from the north- 

 west. This traveling I find can to a great extent he 

 stopped by killing off, as soon as the young are old enough 

 to look after themselves somewhat, the old pair of each 

 bevy, and especially the hen birds. During the fall of '92 

 I broke some pups on them and had very fine sport, in- 



deed. I never tried to see how many I could get, bnt 

 averaged say about a dozen a day for something over a 

 month, that is, the most I killed in any one day was 

 twenty-three and I tried never to kill over half a bevy, 

 leaving the rest for seed. I had some buckwheat planted 

 and lelt standing near some of the covers that I thought 

 they would winter in, and aside from arranging with some 

 of the farmers to feed them if they came around and 

 looking after them a little in a few spots did nothing 

 further. I knew of six bevies or parts, staying around 

 near the region they were put out in tha.t came through 

 all O. K. Ten miles away one day late in February, when 

 snow was deepest, I saw one bevy with twenty strong 

 birds. They were living on a side bank covered with 

 jumpers and cedars and feeding on seeds, etc., in a marsh 

 on the lake front near, one bevy beiDg under the floor of 

 an old pavilion and one in a pine thicket. During the 

 mating season this year I heard them all over the 

 grounds where I had put them down, and also some in 

 Vermont and heard of them for miles around, especially 

 in Vermont. Last winter was considered hard on them 

 everywhere, but these seemed to have stood it all right. 

 Instead of looking them up and locating the bevies this 

 season, I didn't look for any until a day or two before the 

 opening of November. I found then only three bevies 

 during the course of an hour or two's work with dogs, al- 

 though one had some forty birds in and was probably 

 two bevies joined preparatory to traveling, as I have not 

 seen them since. I went out the opening day and once 

 since only. I found three bevies, although the farmers 

 told me that where there were lots during the summer 

 they haven't seen any since October. 



I did not pay the attention to the quail that I should 

 have done. I had good sport one fall and they wintered 

 well and this, the severest winter on birds known for 

 sometime, and if I had killed the old of every bevy this 

 fall there would be more here now, although there are 

 enough now for seed in '94, if they winter. From the ex- 

 perience I had and from that of many friends I should 

 advise your not getting birds until late, say the last of 

 March, when you can turn them down immediately on 

 their arrival. Where they are procured early and 

 wintered in a barn or elsewhere they don't seem to do as 

 well and they seem to die off rapidly whether because too, 

 many are kept in one place or not I don't Know. If you 

 try and winter them, keep them in several houses where 

 they can get sunlight, having a fine meshed net around 

 the sides, say a foot from the walls and one overhead — 

 have a place fixed in one part with bushes so that they 

 can run and hide; cover the floor with gravel, sand and 

 a dusting place, lots of fresh water and feed, some green 

 food as well as seeds, and don't try and keep over three 

 dozen in one place. 



If you will plant some buckwheat and grains near the 

 covers and let it remain, it will afford good feed for 

 them in winter, and you, of course, as a club, will have 

 them looked after — more carefully than I did — and above 

 all, have the old birds killed off before they travel if you 

 want to keep the bevies around where they were raised. 



W. C. Witherbee. 



An interesting report was read from Simon Marshall, 

 the special game protector appointed by the Association 

 in April of last year, in which he reported having during 

 the past season captured and destroyed sixty-eight nets 

 worth $550. Mr. Marshall's territory included Braddock's 

 Bay, Cranberry Pond, Long Pond, Buck Pond, Round 

 Pond, all in the town of Greece. He made sixteen arrests 

 and secured n ine convictions. Mr. Marshall has four cases 

 pending in the courts at the present time. The amount 

 collected in fines from the parties convicted was $173. 

 Mr. Marshall reports that he finds it difficult to get assist- 

 ance in his work, as the farmers are afraid of the illegal 

 fishermen, who take pains to warn the farmers that if they 

 tell the game protector, trouble will follow. He also re- 

 ports that in a fish suit, fishermen and jurors have little 

 regard for their oath. Mr. Marshall says that if he con- 

 tinues in the employ of the Association next season he will 

 have a boat of his own which he can load into his wagon, 

 and take to the water in pursuit of illegal fishermen as he 

 discovers them while driving along the shores of the ponds, 

 streams and bays. He reports having been greatly assisted 

 in his work by State Game Protector Schwaitz, who has 

 aided him in making captures. 



President Wadsworth spoke briefly in reference to the 

 proposition which he made some months ago to the For- 

 estry Association, and the fish and bird men of this local- 

 ity. ' He said the conditions of the proposition were that 

 a fish hatchery should be built by the fish and bird men 

 at some suitable point along the river or its tributary 

 streams. By this scheme Mr. Wadsworth hopes to bring 

 to the attention of the farmers a i- ng the river the value 

 of preserving the fish and game, and he believes that little 

 can be accomplished unless the farmers heartily co-operate 

 with the sportsmen. 



The committee on nominations, composed of Messrs. 

 Brown, Gillette, Roth, Vogel and Annis, reports d the fol 

 lowing list of officers and they were declared elected: 

 President, Wm. S. Kimball: First Vice-President, Herbert 

 Wadsworth; Second Vice-President, E. A. Babcock; 

 Treasurer, H. D. McVean; Secretary, Frank J, Amsden. 

 Executive Committee: H. S. Woodworth, J. B. G. Warner, 

 Dr. H. S. Miller, Daniel C. Bascom, H. M. Stewart, Thos. 

 W. Fraine and Dr. Davifl Little. 



Mr. Edmund Redmond offered this resolution, which 

 gave rise to some earnest debate: 



Whereas, A recent decision of the Court of Appeals confirmed the 

 constitutionality of that clause in the Penal Code aud game law which, 

 forbids shooting or fishing in this State on the first day of the week; 

 and 



Whereas, It is not the province of the Legislature to prescribe in 

 what manner the people shall observe their days of rest; and 



Whereas, Angling or shooting for amusement, in season, is in no 

 way injurious to the State, but a pastime that should be free; there- 

 fore 



Resolved, That this Association regards the law in question as a vex- 

 atious interference with the rights of the people, an uncalled-for 

 abridgment of their liberty; calculated in generate ill-will between 

 men, and in no way good, but opposed to the spirit of the State consti- 

 tution : and 



Resolved That we would be pleased to see the obnoxious law re- 

 pealed and that the secretary be requested to send a copy of this pre- 

 amble and resolution to the committees on game laws and Penal Code 

 of the Senate and Assembly of this State, 



The motion was eventually referred to the executive 

 committee, on suggestion of Dr. E. V. Stoddard, who said: 

 "If the morning papers report that we have adopted such 

 a resolution, nine out of every ten men will at once ex- 

 claim: 'That is a nice Association, it votes in favor of 

 Sabbath desecration.' These men will say this because 

 they do not think and because they do not understand 



