66 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[JAN. 23, 18»7. 
NEW YORK ASSOCIATION. 
The annual meeting of the New York State Aaaocjation 
for tlie Protection of Fish and Game was held in the assem- 
bly room of Yates House, in Syracuse, Thursday, Jan. 14. 
There was a good attendance, although not quite as large 
aa last year. Great Interest was manifested, in the pro- 
ceedings and the discussions were 8i>irited at times, but 
the utmost good feeling prevailed throughout. It was ap- 
parent that the dpsire and aim of tbe convention was to 
conform to the wishes of the majority of the true sports- 
men of the State, but there was also a disposition to show 
due consideration to the minority in all cases where 
opinions differed, and to make concessions thereto, when 
possible and consistent with the interests of protection. 
The different organizations represented and their dele- 
gates were as follows: 
Anglers' Association of Onondaga— D. H. Bruce, Arthur Jenkins, 
W. S. McQregor, L. S. Morgan. Henry Lof tie, Amos Padgham, O. H. 
Mowry. 
Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River— G. M, Skinner, W 
H. Thompson, A. C. Cornwall, G. H. Strough. 
Auburn Gun Olub— George R. Peck, Charles Curtis, J. E. Brigden. 
Black River Fish and Game Protective Association, Utica— W. E. 
Wolcott. 
Oanandaieua Rod and Gun Club— Dr. C. T. Mitchell, G. A. McGreevy, 
O. B. Lapham. 
Central New York Fish and Game Protective Assiciation, Seneca 
Falls- W. 8. Gavitt, E. G. Gould, A. M. Schermerhorn 
Erie County Fish and Game Protective Association, Buffalo- L. P. 
Beyer, P. S. Lansdowne. 
Genesee Valley P otectlve and Propagating Fish and Game Associa- 
tion, Rochester— F. J. Amsden. 
Honeoye Falls Anglers' Association — A. Mather. 
New York Association for the Protection of Fish and Game, New 
York City— Robert B. Lawrence, George O. Shields. 
Niagara County Anglers' Association, Lockport- W. E Hueston, H. 
K. Wicker. 
Oswego and Jefferson County Fish and Game Protective Associa- 
tion, Lacona— William Jay Stevens, H. S. Barker. 
Spencer Sportcmen's Club. Lyons- Henry Killick. 
Steuben County Fi^h and Game Protective Associa'ion, Bath— Z. L. 
Parker, Dr. G. G. McNitt. 
Assistant Chief Game Protector Mannistee Wertz, of Oswego; Pro- 
tector Carver, of Wayne county; and Fred D. Divine, of Utica, were 
also present. 
President Frank J. Amsden, of Rochester, in his address 
expressed the pleasure it afforded him to meet the repre- 
sentatives of the various organizations, and said that dur- 
ing the past year a decided change for the better had 
been noticed throughout the State in regard to the en- 
forcement of the game laws. The experience at Albany 
was about the same as the year previous. There was a 
flood of bills both bad and good, but through the 
efforts of the representatives of the State Association very 
few of the bad bUIs were allowed to go through, and some 
of the good ones were successful. "The only thing we 
regretted," continued the speaker, "was the failure to re- 
peal Section 249, but it was found impossible to stem the 
weight of influence behind it. The treatment accorded 
the representatives of this Association was gratifying, and 
the result of our work in Albany showed the benefits of 
organization. From observation and inquiry from differ- 
ent clubs throughout the State, I find that' the enforce- 
ment of the law has been better during the pist year than 
ever before. I think the protectors are a fine body of men, 
but there ought to be twice as many of them. No one seems 
to know how the proposed forestry amendment came to 
be pas3ed by the Legislature last year, and submitted to 
the people. Fortunately this Association learned of it in 
time, and a letter against it was issued. The people came 
to the front and buried the proposition, I think this is 
one of the most encouraging things in the interests of 
forest and game protection that has ever occurred. There 
is a strong feeling in favor of much closer protection for 
deer. The subject of netting in our inland waters has 
also become a burning one. The trouble ia that the privi- 
lege of netting food fish has been abused, and there are 
not protectors enough to prevent it. The feeling is that 
licensed netting should be done away with. There is a 
strong feeling that the laws should be uniform, and the 
seasons for shooting contracted to prevent the utter exter- 
mination of game. The work done on the St. La'sirreuce 
River has been very good." 
The following committee on nomination of ofificers was 
appointed by the chair: Gen. D. H. Bruce, R, B. Law- 
rence, Aaron Mather. 
The balance of the forenoon and a good share of the 
afternoon were devoted to the consideration of the report 
of the law committee on proposed, amendments to the 
game code, which had been submitted by different or- 
ganizations. The report was presented by Chairman 
Cornelius W. Smith, of Syracuse, and each proposed 
change was acted upon separately. Mr, Smith's associ- 
ates on the committee were: Elon R. Brown, Watertown; 
Charles B, Lapham, Canandaigua; Howard H. Widener, 
Rochester; Z, L. Parker, Bath. The Association mani- 
fested its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by 
Chairman Smith and tbe other members of the committee 
by a unanimous vote of thanks. It was decided to re- 
commend the following amendments to the game laws: 
Veer Season —Seel ion 40 to ba amended ao aa to make the open sea- 
son from Sept. I to Nov. 1, instead of from Aug. 16 to Oct. 81, both 
inclusive, as it now provides. Also to prohibit the killing of deer be- 
tween the hours of 8 P. M. and 6 A. M. 
Fe/Mson.— Section 41 to be amended to corrpspond with the pre- 
ceding section, limiting the time for the possession oC venison to the 
open season and ten days after its close. 
Floating, Jacfcwg.— Section 43, which now permits the u^e of jack- 
lighcs in hunting deer from Sept. 1 to 15 inclusive, to be amended so 
as to prohibit jacking or floating for deer. 
t|Hou?id.mj7.— Section 44, which now permits the use of dogs in hunt- 
iua deer from Oct. 1 to 15 inclusive, to be amended so as to prohibit 
bouQdihg. 
Squirrels, Hares and jBobbits.— Section 49, which now permits the 
killing of black and gray squirrels, hares and rabbits, from Oct. 15 to 
Feb. 15 inclusive, to be amended so as to make the open season for 
gquirreta from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, and tor hares and rabbits from Oct. 
15 to Feb. 15. Also to remove the prohibition in regard to the use of 
ferrets. 
Beaver, Muakrats, JtfiwA;.— Section 50, which makes the killing of 
beaver illegal, to be amended by the addition of a clause prohibiting 
the killing of muskrats and mink from May 1 to Jan. 1. Also making 
it illegal to break into the houses of muskrats . A reservation is made, 
however, of the right to kill muskrats to prevent injury to dams, etc. 
Traps and snares set in close season can be destroyed by anyone. 
Web-footed Wildfowl.— BBCtion 70, which provides that web-footed 
wildfowl, except geese and brant, shall not be pursued, shot at, 
killed, possessed or sold between the last day of April and the first 
day of September, to be amended so that geese and brant will not be 
excepted from the provision. It was also decided to make the close 
season begin April 1 and end Sept. 1. In section 71, relating to wild- 
fowl, it was deemed wise to strike out the words '-brought to shore." 
Woodcock and Buffed Grouse— Section 74, which now permits the 
killing or woodcock and ruffed grouse from Aug. 16 to Deo. 31, to be 
amended 80 as to make the open season from Sent. 15 to Dec. 31. 
Woodcock, Quail and Ruffed Grouse, vjhen not to be Transported.— 
See. 76, which prohibits the transporcaiion of woodcock, quail and 
ruffed grouse unless accompanied by the owner, to be amended so 
as to provide that no person shall transport more than twelve of 
these birds at one time. 
Wild Birds Protected — See. 78, which provides that wild birds shall 
not be killed or caught at any time, or possessed after the same are 
dead, to be amended so that they cannot be possessed whether living 
or dead. 
Salmon Trout —Sec, 108, which makes the open season for salmon 
trout from May 30 to Sept. .30, to be amended so as to make the sea- 
son commence April 1, closing at the same time it does now. 
Blach Bass —Sec. 110 to be amended so as to provide that no 
black bass shall be caught from their spawning beds knowingly. 
Sec. Ill, which prohibits the catching of black bass less than 8in. 
in length, to be amended so as to make the minimum legal length 9in. 
Sec. 121 —Amended by providing a close season for striped bass 
in Hudson River during April and May, the spawning season. 
Sec. 132, which now reads: "No tlsh shall be fished for, caught 
or killed in any manner or by any device except angling, in the waters 
of Lake Erie, within one-half of a mile of the shores thereof, or of 
any of the islands therein; nor in the Cattaraugus Creek, or within 
fi^e miles of the mouth thereof, or of any island therein; nor in Lake 
Ontario, within one mile of the shore, or of any island therein; nor 
within three miles of the mouth of the Niagara River; the waters of 
Lake Ontario in the county of Jefferson included between Blue Rock 
Point in the town of Brownville and the town line between the towns 
of Lyme and Cape Vincent, including Chaumont Bay, Griflin Bay and 
FRAUK J. AMSDEN. 
The outgoing President. 
Three-Mile Bay, in the county -of Oswego, between the northerly line 
of the town of Mexico and Jefferson county line, are hereby exempt 
from the provisions of this act." ♦ ♦ ♦ to be amended so as to 
prohibit all netting except one mile from shore, in Lake Ontario and 
all of its bays, in the Niagara River or within three miles from-its 
mouth, or in Lake Erie within one mile from the shore, or within 
three miles of the Horseshoe Reef Lighthouse. 
Meshes of Nets —Sec, 134, which provides that the meshes of nets 
used in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and the Cattaraugus Creek 
shall not be less than lJ4in. bar, to be amended so as to make 
the minimum legal sizs for Niagara River 2in. bar and 4in. mesh. 
Making Through the Jce.— Sec. 141, which permits fishing for cer- 
tain flsh through the ice in specified waters, to be amended so as to 
eliminate clauses which permit the spearing of flsh, especially as re- 
lating to Oneida Lake. 
Minnows for Bait—Sec. 145 to be amended so as to make the 
legal length of minnow nets not over 25ft. and depth 4ft. Also requir- 
ing that all bass, pike, wall-eyed pike or maskallonge caught in min- 
now nets to be put back. 
.Wets.— Sections 149 and 151, which provide for the taking of frost ' 
ROBERT B, liAWRENCE. 
The outgoing Vice-President. 
flsh and whitaflsh from the waters of Otsego Lake and from inland 
lakes not inhabited by brook trout, during such times as the Com- 
missioners may stipulate, and for the licensing of nets used for this 
purpose. Both sections to be repealed. 
Section 103 to be amended by erasing in line 4 "Inland" before 
"waters;" and in line 3 after "possession" insert "except for trans- 
portation, sale or legitimate purposes." 
Sale of Game — Section 249, which permits the sale of game the 
year round, it was decided should be repealed. 
Pickerel — Section 825 to be amended so aa to provide that no 
pickerel less than 18in. in length shall be taken in the St. Lawrence 
River. 
The convention also voted in favor of making the fol- 
lowing additions to the game laws: 
1. To prohibit the sale of speckled trout, grouse or woodcock killed 
in thla State, 
3 To increase the force of State gume protectors from thirty-five 
to sixty. 
3. To give protectors power to examine any boat, vehicle, car or 
carriage of any angler or hunter, or person or corporation tranaporb- 
Ing flsh or game, or any box, locker, crate, basket or other package 
therein or in his possession, for the purpose of ascertaining whethei 
any provision of law has been violated, 
4. To establish a system of bounties to be paid to private individual; 
who may take nets in Illegal use, graded according to the kind o: 
net; each person to take such net before a justice, sheriff, deputj 
sheriff, supervisor or two taxpayers, destroy it in his presence, ob 
tain from him a certificate of such destruction, and receive tht 
bounty upon production of the certificate to the county treasurer 
Also to provide that any person who may so destroy nets shall hav( 
the rights of a protector, and the immunity from damage, and pro 
tection from suit, the same as provided in Section 32. 
W, E. Wolcott, of Utica, addressed the convention or 
tbe subject of forest protection and read an original poem 
He said: 
I desire very briefly to call the attention of this conven 
tion to the lamentable state of affairs which exists in thf 
Adirondack wilderness. Lovers of forest life are botb 
saddened and alarmed at the manner in which lumbering 
is being carried on in that region. During the past few 
years strenuous efforts have been put forth by friends oi 
the forest to check the work of devastation which has sc 
long been in progress there, but the march of the lumber 
man still continues unhindered. 
It was confidently hoped for a time that the acquiaitioi 
of vast tracts of land by clubs for fish and game preserve! 
would have a wholesome effect in retarding the cutting o! 
timber, but experience has taught the lesson that littl» 
dependence can be placed on such sources for protection 
Some of tbe most destructive lumbering in the wildernesf 
has been conducted within the limits of one of the larges 
preserves, and miles of dead timber caused by damming 
streams and flooding the land, and thousands of acre; 
almost entirely denuded of soft wood, traversed by wid< 
wagon roads and littered with brush heaps and faUei 
tree tops, now mar the beauty of localities which wer* 
for years eagerly sought by hunters, anglers and tourists 
Perhaps nowhere is the havoc lately wrought by the lum 
bermen more noticeable than about the headwaters of th< 
West Canada Creek and Black River, and this is particu 
larly unfortunate from the fact that the latter strean 
forms one of the main water supplies for the canals oi 
the State. 
The Adirondacks have no enduring subterranear 
springs, for there is no water-bearing stratum of rocks ir 
that region, and no water is foimd there save that whict 
first falls from the clouds. The soil is light and spongy 
being composed of decayed and decaying vegetable mat 
ter, a mass which is the product of untold ages. Whei 
sheltered by the trees it acts as a vast storage reservoi) 
for the temporary retention and gradual distribution oi 
rains and melted snows, thus equalizing the supply oi' 
water in the lakes and streams. But if the forest is re 
moved the soil will quickly dry up and burn like tinde 
when fire reaches it, or wash away in the rainy season 
leaving only the bare rocks or equally barren quartif eroui 
sands. The destruction of the trees means the loss of tht 
soil, and this just as certainly means dry water courses ii 
the summer and disastrous floods in spring and fall. I'! 
is poor economy for the State to expend large sums foi ( 
constructing and maintaining reservoirs and then allocs ■ 
the timber to be removed from the watersheds. 
It has come to be a matter of common knowledge tha 
the Adirondack forests are essential to the welfare of tht 
whole people. It has required many years to learn thit 
truth, but that it is now clearly recognized was made ap 
parent in November, when the electors of this State bur 
ied a proposed constitutional amendment which meam 
destruction to the forests under an adverse majority oi 
more than half a million. This action speaks louder that 
words, and the import seems to be that it is the will oJ 
the people that the State should not only retain intact all itf 
present Adirondack holdings, but should continue to pur 
chase additional lands there as rapidly as possible. Thert 
is every reason for believing that the same spirit of enter 
prise and appreciation of public needs which caused th( 
seal of approval to be placed on the proposition to expsnc 
millions of dollars in canal improvements would sanctioi 
one to purchase woodlands on the watersheds of the Stat^ 
reservoirs which serve as feeders for the canals. 
In Bpite of all that has been said and written of the evils 
sure to follow if the forests are destroyed, and notwith 
standing the efforts made in the interests of protection, tht 
axe and saw of the lumberman are as busy as ever. Ol 
course, lumbering is a legitimate business, but the fact 
mentioned suggested the following lines as picturing (ir 
case he felt called upon to address the public) what migh 
be: 
The Lumberman's Request. 
In Adirondack wilds I stand, 
With steadfast aim to clear the land. 
Buy up the woods, do what you please, 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
I want to chap and saw and hack 
The hemlock, spruce and tamarack. 
Close canals' locks and lose the keys. 
But don't prevent my catting trees. 
I want the balsam, pine and ash; 
The maple, beech and birch I'll slash. 
Take all the waste land by degrees, 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
Hake all the woods a public park; 
Make every tourist toe the mark; 
Make them obey your wise decrees, 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
Hunters may miss the noble game 
That now rewards their steady aim. 
Let them lament on bended knees, 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
Anglers may miss the speckled trout 
When springs and streams alike give out. 
Let them camplain and make their pleas, 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
Lakes may vanish, brooks run dry. 
Bare rocks and brush heaps greet the eye. 
Crops may fail, plagues the people seize. 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
Flood your cities and drown them out. 
What care I what thus comes about? 
Sweep mills and dwellings to the seas, 
But don't prevent my outUng trees. 
Droughts, famine, cyclones, lightning, hail, 
May each their greatest harm entail. 
Let climate change, mercury freeze. 
But don't prevent my cutting trees. 
