856 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[May 28, 1910. 
Louisiana Legislature. 
New Orleans, La., May 18. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: The house committee on fish and 
fisheries yesterday reported favorably on a bill 
abolishing the game commission. The bill was 
introduced by Representative Thomas and the 
vote in the committee stood seven to two. Gov¬ 
ernor Sanders told the committee members that 
the game commission could not be abolished out¬ 
right, but it is his wish to combine the game 
commission and the oyster commission. A bill 
has been introduced merging the two boards, 
and it looks as if it will be adopted. It is pro¬ 
posed to consolidate so as to save extra offices 
and expenses. Representatives of the canning in¬ 
dustries, President Dessman of the oyster com¬ 
mission, Game Commissioner Miller and Attor¬ 
ney Amos L. Ponder held a conference with 
Governor Sanders on the bill to consolidate, and 
a practical agreement was reached. 
Governor Sanders has said that he will veto 
the bill abolishing the State Game Commission. 
Even without the Governor’s veto those favoring 
game protection and conservation of food supply 
in this State have a very large majority in both 
the House and Senate. The main question now 
seems to be on the consolidation of the two 
boards and the enactment of proper laws. 
Attorneys John Dvmond and J. K. Bailey, rep¬ 
resenting the Sportsmen’s League of Louisiana, 
held a conference in Baton Rouge with the Gov¬ 
ernor, Commissioner Miller and Attorney Pon¬ 
der, and it was agreed that the game law should 
be amended to allow fifty ducks to be killed in 
one day by a single hunter instead of twenty- 
five. Senator Perrin will introduce a bill ex¬ 
empting farmers who pay their poll taxes from 
paying $1 for hunting licenses. At the present 
time a farmer may hunt on his land without 
having a license, but when he goes on other 
property he must have a license. 
Petitions signed by several hundred residents 
in Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes have been 
forwarded to the Legislature, asking that the 
law be repealed which prohibits the killing of 
sea gulls. The petitioners assert that the sea 
gull is no real value and they are multiplying 
so fast they are proving a serious menace to the 
fish and shrimp industry. The petitioners claim 
that some years ago before the present law was 
passed protecting the gulls, scores of people 
made a living by killing these birds and selling 
their plumage for fifty and seventy-five cents, 
and that now they can get probably $2 for the 
wings in the big market centers and even more 
if shipped to Paris. The indications are that 
those posted on such subjects want gulls pro¬ 
tected for several years until they grow more 
numerous. 
The Thomas bill repealing the State Game 
Commission act, and reported favorably to the 
house, was defeated to-day by a vote of 76 to 
32. A motion was made to indefinitely postpone 
action on the Thomas bill, and it was carried 
after considerable discussion. The views ex¬ 
pressed by the majority were to the effect that 
it would be better to repeal the present game 
laws by enacting new legislation and consolidat¬ 
ing the game and oyster commissions. Mr. 
Thomas has given notice of his intention to in¬ 
troduce a bill providing for the election of a 
president of the game commission by the people 
and making sheriffs and their deputies in each 
parish wardens. The proposed bill also stipu¬ 
lates that the money arising from the sale of 
licenses and other income revenues shall go di¬ 
rectly into the general treasury of the State. A 
bill has been introduced to protect fur-bearing 
animals throughout the year. F. G. G. 
New Chief Deputy. 
Los Angeles, Cal., May 15.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: At a recent meeting of the Cali¬ 
fornia State Game and Fish Commission several 
changes were made that will be of lively in¬ 
terest to sportsmen in this State. Michael J. 
Connell, of this city, was made president of the 
commission and John P. Babcock was appointed 
chief deputy to succeed Charles A. Vogelsang, 
who is to continue to hold office two or three 
months longer. Mr. Connell is taking a lively 
interest in the conduct of the commission’s busi¬ 
ness, and sportsmen are generally pleased at the 
selection. 
Mr. Babcock is rtot a new man to California 
game and fish protective conditions, or to the 
work generally, having been engaged in it in 
Canada for the last few years, going there from 
San Francisco where he was the chief deputy 
of the California commission up to that time. 
The vacancy created when he left was filled by 
the appointment of Mr. Vogelsang. Much is 
expected of Mr. Babcock by sportsmen, as the 
game and fish situation in the State needs the 
earnest efforts of a thoroughly sincere and zeal¬ 
ous executive officer, which is virtually what the 
chief deputyship entails. 
Edwin L. Hedderly. 
A Deer Drowned. 
Milford, Conn., May 21.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: I am told that on Thursday last a 
deer was drowned near here at the mouth of 
the Housatonic River. Two men who were out 
black fishing off the river’s mouth saw an 
object slowly passing through the water, and 
investigating found that it was a doe. She 
seemed much exhausted. They towed the animal 
to shore and dragged her up on the beach. For 
a time she seemed unable to get on her feet and 
lay there, but gradually rest gave her strength 
and she stood up. The men returned to their 
fishing, but watched the deer. Presently to their 
astonishment she re-entered the water and swam 
out toward the Sound. They watched her for 
a little while and she disappeared. Rowing over 
to where she was they found her apparently 
drowned and brought her to shore, where she 
was left, dead. 
There are not a few deer hereabouts. The 
animals themselves are seen occasionally and 
their tracks frequently. Some hounds from up 
the Housatonic River frequently come down and 
chase the deer, sometimes for ten or twelve 
hours at a stretch. These are examples of the 
self-hunting dogs of which we have recently 
heard in Forest and Stream. Orange. 
New York Legislature. 
Albany, N. Y., May 23.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: The Senate has passed these bills: 
Senate committee’s bill amending the forest, 
fish and game law generally. 
Assemblyman Greenwood’s, allowing the 
spearing of suckers, bullheads and eels in the 
counties of Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne. 
Senator Travis’, in relation to the sale of wild¬ 
fowl taken without the State. 
Senator Schlosser’s, amending the forest, fish 
and game law generally. 
Assemblyman Allen’s, to enlarge the fish 
hatchery at Bemus Point, on Lake Chautauqua. 
Assemblyman Merritt’s, proposing an amend¬ 
ment to the constitution in relation to the dis¬ 
position and use of lands in the forest preserve. 
Senator Bayne’s, relating to the Hudson River 
Park. 
The Assembly has passed the bill of Assem¬ 
blyman Fowler, relating to carp in the! Hudson 
River. 
The Assembly on May 23 concurred in the 
Senate amendments to Assemblyman Merritt’s 
concurrent resolution, proposing an amendment 
to the constitution relating to the disposition and 
use of lands in the forest preserve. 
The Senate committee on forest, fish and game 
has reported favorably Assemblyman" Wieland’s 
bill relative to the open season for woodcock on 
Long Island, and it was advanced to third read¬ 
ing. E- C. C. 
The Stag Afloat. 
The stag is not by any means afraid of the 
water, and when the necessity arises he is ever 
ready to give an exhibition of his sw’imming 
powers. Such a spectacle is not uncommon in 
the Highlands, and excites little comment among 
foresters. The noble creature frequently takes 
to the limpid element in order to elude pursuit. 
Only the other day, a fine stag, which had ap¬ 
parently been subjected to some molestation in 
the neighborhood of Melmsdale Harbor, Suther- 
landshire, plunged into the sea, and set his course 
oceanward. He swam lightly and rapidly, and 
succeeded in placing two miles to his credit. 
Two fishermen in a boat captured the animal, 
which, unhappily, was drowned while being 
towed ashore. It was a nine-pointer, and 
weighed about eighteen stone. The occurrence 
reminds me of a similar incident which some 
four years ago came under my observation in 
the Island of Mull. A certain proprietor had 
ordered a number of stags from the South with 
the object of infusing some fresh blood into 
his ruddy herd. On arriving by steamer, the 
animals were carted in their crates to the park 
assigned to them, and where they were prompt¬ 
ly liberated. One of the strangers was, evident 
ly, much alarmed by his new surroundings, and 
instantly made a dash for the adjacent shore. 
Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang into 
the water—which was at the time very choppy 
and intensely cold—and struck out gallantly for 
the nearest point on the mainland. The Sound 
of Mull, three-quarters of a mile broad, was 
duly negotiated, and, after resting for an instant 
on the tangle-covered beach, the gallant 
creature tripped it lightly toward the rugged 
bens. Bodily fear is not, however, the only 
motive that causes the stag to engage in aquatic 
exercises. In the fall of the year he is often 
impelled by amatory considerations to cross 
inland lochs and arms of the sea in order to 
visit favorite hinds known to be disporting 
themselves on the opposite shores.—County 
Gentleman. 
