Galvanized Iron Wire, attached to tree 
trunks or other suitable supports, three 
to three and one half feet above the 
ground, is stretched around the tract 
inside the boundary line. 
eeRE is no fence of any kind, other 
than the wire mentioned, so that the 
game is not confined in any way but 
can leave or enter the refuge at will, 
reproduce as 
the intention being to 
nearly as possible the 
conditions under 
which birds and ani- 
mals thrive best in a 
wild state. 
The next step is to 
destroy, as nearly as 
’ possible, all vermin in 
the refuge and from 
as much of the sur- 
rounding territory as 
can be reached by 
the Keeper. Wildcats, 
foxes, weasels, minks, 
crows, the destructive, 
prowling house cats, 
and various hawks 
and owls are killed off 
through the system- 
atic use of traps, the 
intelligent and limited 
use of strychnine, and 
other methods. Ver- 
min naturally in- 
creases with the game 
and gathers in from 
all the surrouding ter- 
ritory so that its de- 
struction must be con- 
tinued indefinitely. 
Traps of the best 
type and quality are 
generously supplied 
the keepers, who are 
also paid the bounty 
offered by the State 
as an inducement to 
give their very best 
efforts in the extermi- 
nation of vermin. One 
experienced trapper 
in the employ of the 
Department spends 
practically his entire 
time instructing re- 
fuge keepers, game 
protectors, and interested sportsmen in 
the trapping of vermin. 
When the refuge is ready for game, 
if it is not already sufficiently stocked, 
various kinds such as deer, elk, wild 
turkeys, squirrels, and other native 
game are purchased and placed within 
the protected area. 

REAT success has resulted from 
stocking these refugees with bear 
trapped in sections of the State where 
they are plentiful. There are now bear 
Page 329 
{rimeciiatel 
in the mountains within sixty miles of 
Pittsburgh where they were extermi- 
nated fifty years ago. Large Northern 
Deer have been used for stocking pur- 
poses. Most of these were secured from 
Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire 
and New York and the balance from 
breeders of these large deer within the 
State. On account of does being heavy 
with fawn, in the Spring they should 
not be handled later than March. How- 

The dau gacldsed by thie aire is under the control 
ef the Board of Game Commissioners of Pennsylvania — 
and under the provisions of an Act of Assembly has _ 
been set apart as a GAME REFUGE, the purpose being _ 
te supply a haven of refuge into which game and wild _ 
birds may retreat and be at reat. 
ae absolute protection, will overflow to 
the surrounding territory where same may be taken 
PSs speed the provisions of existing law. | 
__No_person has the right 

season in the State, except | 
: Proteqtors, whose f 
, ; E reioussinte upon these lands 
_ ‘The penalty for killing birds or 
We believe this sercae. means an increase of game in 
ie aection, and ask you to help us secure the desiredresult _ 
aly notifying the officer in charge, or the Game _ é 
H. : 
vi mrorevons. 
Facsimile of Game Refuge Posters which are placed at intervals of 150 yards 
along the boundaries of enclosures 
ever, losses have been small and have 
never exceeded two per cent. New 
blood is supplied from time to time by 
stocking some young bucks in limited 
numbers. 
‘In 1922, game purchased outside the 
State cost $82,000.00, and on account 
of the great demand for native game 
it is becoming scarce and the price, with 
the exception of rabbits, which are pur- 
chased west of the Mississippi River, 
is almost prohibitory. 
A salaried officer of the Department, 
The increase. 
to. hont- for or disturb the 
known as a Refuge Keeper, is placed 
in charge of each regular refuge. 
H's duties, in the order of their im- 
" portance are to prevent and ex- 
tinguish forest fires, destroy vermin, 
guard the refuge against poachers, feed 
game in the winter time, and in addi- 
tion feed game and enforce the law in 
all directions within a fair riding dis- 
tance. In order to supplement the 
natural food in the 
Refuge to attract and 
maintain wild life, 
the keepers plant 
and transplant wal- 
nuts, hickory nuts, 
mulberries, wild cher- 
ries, apples, wild 
grapes, and other 
fruit and _ berry-pro- 
ducing trees and 
anh be oe et ee 
spruces, and other 
conifers are also 
planted for winter 
cover. They also clear 
off tillable patches 
within the refuge area 
and sow them to buck- 
wheat, millet, kaffir 
corn, broom corn, and 
other grains. As 
many as 2,500 trees 
and shrubs of various 
kinds have been 
planted in each of our 
sanctuaries yearly. 
Last Spring a total 
of 40,000 trees and 
shrubs were planted 
in eleven refuges, 
most of which were 
furnished by our For- 
estry Department. 
Winter feeding with 
grain, hay, and other 
forage is resorted to 
when necessary. 
Each Keeper is sup- 
plied with a house or 
camp of some sort, 
close to the Refuge 
and connected by tele- 
phone with the out- 
side world. He is also 
furnished a saddle 
horse and such other equipment as may 
be advantageous to the proper admin- 
istration of his duties. 
qTHat the game refuge idea is the 
logical solution of the problem of 
future game supply has been demon- 
strated beyond doubt by the work of 
the Pennsylvania Board of Game Com- 
missioners. In 1905, when the necessity 
for action became apparent, the total 
number of bucks, does and fawns killed 
(Continued on page 364) 
¥ 
