]\1arch zg, iyi3 
FOREST AND STREAM 
403 
ceive. Generally speaking, a share of his catch 
will establish the best relations. 
The big snow rivers have yielded some heavy 
takes. For instance, forty-three migratory trout 
weighing altogether 306 pounds in the “evening 
fishing”^—usually an all night business—by two 
rods in the Rakaia. In this class of snow rivers 
the Rangitata is very near the top, and any 
traveling fisherman will surely be directed to its 
banks, but if he goes there, it will be well to 
heed the old Scotch saying, and “gang warily.” 
Though it is a fine rapid river, containing huge 
fish, the Rangitata is a most treacherous water, 
and often has proved a death trap, even to those 
who have known it all their lives. Near the month 
there is a long tidal lagoon, separated from the 
South Pacific only by a shingle bank, through 
which the current cuts a new outlet at almost 
every fresh. The edges are constantly slipping 
in, and the angler, encumbered by waders, has 
little chance if he should happen to be standing 
in such a place. Last week the river was in 
flood, and while two fishermen were crossing the 
lagoon in a flat boat, a new channel opened sud¬ 
denly through the shingle bank. They were car¬ 
ried out by the rush of water, and though the 
frail boat went safely through the breakers, it 
is feared that both were drowned. A tug 
searched for them, but found no trace. This, 
by the way, was the second accident of the kind, 
so all things considered, the mouth of the Rangi¬ 
tata is a good place to avoid. 
Recently, while at the mouth of the Opihi, 
some anglers noticed an interesting migration 
of eels. These were coming in from the sea in 
an apparently endless procession; a closely swim¬ 
ming mass about six feet across, which passed 
slowly upward into the lagoon. A number were 
captured by the simple method of dragging a 
minnow flight through the shoal, and so to say, 
stoke-hauling them. 
So far as the hunter is concerned, the 
month of January is one of those which afford 
him the fewest opportunities. By going far back 
into the bush, near the southern lakes or else¬ 
where, it is possible to get a shot at wild cattle, 
and again, at certain parts of the coast there are 
wild goats and a breed of wild sheep, which by 
the way carry very good trophies. With such 
exceptions there is little shooting in the first 
month, but for a change from everlasting prac¬ 
tice at hares and rabbits, one may take a turn 
at wallabies—small kangaroo—on some of the 
South Canterbury hills. In the first case they 
were brought over from Australia, and liberated 
at Waimate, whence they have spread over the 
surrounding “runs.” The pelts are valuable, and 
a shooting party may account for fifty or sixty 
in a day, but the sport, so-called, is not of a 
high order. It may be noted that the sinews in 
a wallaby’s tail make by far the strongest and 
best mounts for the hooks on an artificial min¬ 
now. They are easily extracted, and last for any 
length of time. For the rest, in spite of his 
inactivity at the present moment, the hunter is 
beginning to look forward to some deer stalk¬ 
ing in April, and finds that the prospect is very 
good. 
In the commercial world a final reserve that 
has won many struggles is the indelible impres¬ 
sion made upon countless minds through strong, 
continuous advertising. 
Albany Legislaiion. 
Albany, N. Y., March 19— Editor Forest 
and Stream: To-day the bolt fell and expected 
legislation aimed at the Conservation Commis¬ 
sion was introduced by Assemblyman Gurnett. 
One bill separates the Marine Fisheries entirely 
from the Fish and Game Department as now 
constituted, and represents the demands of the 
salt water fishermen as laid before the Governor. 
The other completely reorganizes the commis¬ 
sion by making it single-headed, and very materi¬ 
ally reducing its cost to the people. The bills in 
substance are as follows: 
THE NEW COMMISSION IDEA. 
The measure, which is said to have been 
drawn for the Governor by Attorney Norton of 
the inquiry commission, in place of the present 
commission of three members, provides for a 
conservation department to be in charge of a 
single commissioner to have all the duties here¬ 
tofore conferred upon the Forest Purchasing 
Board, the Forest, Fish and Game Commission, 
the Commissioners of Water Power on Black 
River, the State Water Supply Commission and 
the Conservation Commission. The Governor is 
to appoint the conservation commissioner with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve 
for a six-year term at a salary of $10,000 a 
year. He is to be removable by the Governor 
for neglect of duty or misconduct in office, upon 
charges, of which he must have a copy, and 
after reasonable opportunity to answer the 
charges and a public hearing before the Governor 
or a commissioner appointed by him. The ac¬ 
cused conservation commissioner is to have the 
right to counsel at the trial. The provision for 
reimbursement to the secretary of his traveling 
and other expenses and disbursements is struck 
out. The salary of each of the three deputy 
commissioners is increased from $3,500 to $S,ooo 
a year, and the provision for reimbursement to 
them of expenses and disbursements is struck 
out. The commissioner is authorized to appoint 
such engineers, clerks and other employes as 
are needed, and for which appropriation is made 
by the Legislature, the present provision requir¬ 
ing approval by the Governor being eliminated. 
The cornmissioner is authorized to establish ad¬ 
ditional divisions in the department. His juris¬ 
diction to administer laws relating to shellfish is 
taken away. The commissioner is given power 
to designate the duties of the deputy commis¬ 
sioners. The deputy attorney general and as¬ 
sistants assigned by the attorney general for the 
work of the conservation department are not 
to be assigned to the legal department of the 
conservation department. The salaries of the 
assistants are to be fixed by the attorney general 
instead of b}"' the conservation commission or 
commissioners. The attorney general is em¬ 
powered to compromise and settle various kinds 
of actions. Actions to recover penalties are to 
be brought by the attorney general, the require¬ 
ment for an order of the conservation commis¬ 
sion prior to bringing such action is struck out. 
The salaries of the district forest rangers are 
to be fixed by the conservation commissioner 
according to the appropriation made for the pur¬ 
pose by the Legislature, the present limitation 
of $1,500 and necessary expenses being struck 
out. Similarly the commissioner is to fix the 
annual salaries of the forest rangers, the present 
limitation of $75 per month and expenses struck 
out. The annual salary of the auditor of fire 
bills and accounts is to be as appropriated for 
by the Legislature instead of $1,800 a year and 
necessary expenses. The salaries of the chief 
fire inspectors are to be as appropriated for by 
the Legislature instead of $1,200 a year and ex¬ 
penses, and the salaries of game protectors are 
to be such as appropriated by the Legislature in¬ 
stead of $900 a year. The salary of the fish 
culturists is to be as appropriated by the Legis¬ 
lature instead of $4,000 and expenses. The con¬ 
servation commissioner is given broader power 
to remove or discipline game protectors and fish¬ 
eries protectors than are accorded to the Con¬ 
servation Commission under present law. The 
compensation of game protectors and fisheries 
protectors are to be such as appropriated by the 
Legislature, the fixed amounts provided in the 
present law being struck out. 
MARINE FISHERIES BUREAU. 
This measure creates a Department of 
Marine Fisheries to have jurisdiction over a 
marine district including all waters in and ad¬ 
jacent to Long Island, and all tidal waters of 
the State except Hudson River north of Ver- 
planck’s Point. The Governor is to appoint a 
commissioner, with the consent of the Senate. 
The commissioner must be a resident of the 
marine district, is to receive an annual salary 
of $6,000, and to serve for a five-year term as 
the head of the department. The commissioner 
may appoint a deputy commissioner to receive 
a salary of $5,000 a year and expenses not ex- 
ceding $1,000, one confidential secretary at 
$2,500 a year, one or more bacteriologists and 
such clerical assistants as are actually needed 
and for which appropriation shall have been 
made by the Legislature. The officers and em¬ 
ployees of the department are to hold office dur¬ 
ing the pleasure of the commissioner. The com¬ 
missioner may lease lands under water for the 
cultivation of shellfish to persons who have re¬ 
sided in the State one year or more, but oyster 
beds of natural growth shall not be leased un¬ 
less they have for five years failed to produce 
natural oysters in sufficient quantities to enable 
persons to earn a livelihood by taking them. The 
letting of lands under water by the commissioner 
must be made after notice at a public auction 
and to the highest bidder. In no case must the 
price be less than twenty-five cents an acre an¬ 
nually. No lease may run for more than fifteen 
years. Under certain conditions the lessees may 
renew their leases for not exceeding fifteen 
years, and in case of failure to agree on terms 
for releasing, the holder of the original lease 
must be allowed an extension of one year to 
remove from the grounds all shellfish belonging 
to him. Leases may not be transferred except 
to persons who might have been original lessees. 
Provision is made for marking leased grounds, 
reports by lessees to the commissioner, collec¬ 
tion by suit or compromise of rents in areas and 
summary proceedings to oust tenants whose rent 
is in arrears. An annual tax of twenty-five cents 
per acre is to be levied upon shellfish grounds 
owned, leased or possessed by any person. This 
is in lieu of all other taxes on such property. 
There are numerous provisions for inspection 
and regulating in detail the shellfish industry. 
J. D. Whish. 
