PHEASANT RAISING IN THE UNITED STATES. 
15 
made in this country. In 1906 an epidemic of cholera occurred at Sutton, and only 
75 birds were raised from 1,200 eggs. Despite these numerous and dispiriting set¬ 
backs, several thousand pheasants haye been liberated, and through these efforts and 
those of private individuals the State now contains a moderate stock in its covers. 
In November, 1906, more than 3,000 pheasants were killed in Massachusetts in the 
open season of one month. The game commission is now devoting its propagation 
experiments mainly to the restoration of native game, as more likely to yield satis¬ 
factory results than pheasant introduction. 
Ohio.—Ohio records a similar experience. The game commission began in 1892 
with English ringneck pheasants and their eggs. In 1895 it undertook the propaga¬ 
tion of ringnecks, of which it raised several hundred in a hatchery established at 
Celina. Twelve ringnecks were placed on Rattlesnake Island, near Put-in-Bay, to 
breed in the wild state. Later a pheasantry was established at London, where oper¬ 
ations were for a while very successful. In 1900, from 161 hens 7,075 eggs were 
obtained, of which 4,500 were set, and 2,575 distributed in the State. From the 
4,500 eggs 3,181 chicks were hatched. Of those reaching maturity 2,239 were dis¬ 
tributed, some being placed in every county in the State, and 418 were carried over 
to the next breeding season. During this year a three-week season was opened, but 
so great was public interest in the experipaent that few took advantage of the oppor¬ 
tunity to shoot the birds. On March 17, 1901, 38 cocks and 228 hens were placed in 
the breeding pens. The number of eggs collected was 9,041, of which 5,000 were set 
and 4,000 distributed (in 66 counties). At the pheasantry 3,420 chicks were hatched, 
of,which 2,852 were reared. The distribution of adult birds was 1,688 (in 88 counties). 
In July, cholera made its appearance at the pheasantry, and before it was under 
control killed 1,124 birds. The following year the experiment was abandoned, as the 
impression prevailed that for climatic and other reasons pheasant raising could never 
produce satisfactory results in Ohio, and the legislature failed to provide the necessary 
funds. The game commission had reported that pheasant rearing involved large 
expense and that, despite the utmost care, disease was likely to sweep away a large 
part of the hatch. They stated that in their opinion better results could be attained 
by rearing quail. Pheasants in considerable numbers are still to be found in the 
game covers of Ohio, but they are likely to die out unless replenished with fresh stock. 
New York.—In 1897 New York raised 40 ringnecks from a stock of 12 birds at its 
hatchery at Pleasant Valley. In 1898 its stock had increased to 180, and in 1899 more 
than 400 were raised; in 1900, 230 were hatched; in 1902 the stock was 520, of which 
199 were liberated; and in 1903 it was 534, of which 225 were liberated. In 1904 cold 
and rainy weather reduced the stock to 448 and the experiment, although popular 
and successful, was abandoned as unprofitable, owing to the readiness with which 
pheasants could be procured from commercial hatcheries. Meantime the efforts of 
the game commission were being supplemented by propagation and liberation of 
pheasants by individual pheasant raisers. Hon. W. A. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, 
in particular, liberated a large number of pheasants in the Genesee Valley. In 1904 
he turned out 350, one and a half times as many as were distributed by the game com¬ 
mission in that year. The total distribution of pheasants by the game commission, 
covering the period from 1898 to 1904, and embracing 47 counties, was 1,191, of which 
the average cost was $12.50 per pair. Eggs were distributed to the number of 484; 
but this method of stocking the State was not deemed desirable and after one distribu¬ 
tion was practically discontinued. At present many pheasants are being raised on 
private preserves in the State, particularly in the Adirondacks, on Long Island, 
and in the Genesee Valley, and the legislature of New York has recently passed a 
measure providing for the establishment of a state game preserve, where pheasant 
propagation will be resumed. 
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