Page 264 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

242 OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
At present there are just two places in America, and I think only two, wherein there exists the sHghtest exception on this point. The state of Vermont is becoming overstocked with deer, and the females have in some counties (not in all), become so tame and destructive in orchards, gardens and farm crops as to constitute a great annoyance. For this reason, the experiment is being made of permitting does to be killed under license, until their number is somewhat reduced.
The first returns from this trial have now come in, from the county game wardens of Vermont to the state game warden, Mr. John W. Tit- comb. Iwillquotethegistoftheopinionofeach.
The State Commissioner says: "This law should remain in force at least until there is some indication of a decrease in the number of deer." Warden W. H. Taft (Addison County) says: "The killing of does I believe did away with a good many of these tame deer that cause most ofthedamagetofarmers'crops." HarryChase(BenningtonCounty)
says the doe-killing law is " a good law, and I sincerely trust it will not ''
berepealed.' WardenHaywardofRutlandCountysays: ' Themajority of the farmers in this county are in favor of repealing the doe law. ... A great many does and young deer (almost fawns) were killed in this county duringthehuntingseasonof1909." R.W.Wheeler,ofRutlandCounty says : "Have the doe law repealed ! We don't need it ! " H.J. Parcher of Washington County finds that the does did more damage to the crops thanthebucks,andhethinksthedoelawis"ajustone." R.L.Frost, of Windham County, judicially concludes that "the law allowing does to be killed should remain in force one or two seasons more." C. S Parker, of Orleans County, saj^s his county is not overstocked with deer, and he favors a special act for his county, to protect females.
Asummaryofthetestimonyofthewardensiseasilymade. When deer are too plentiful, and the over-tame does become a public nuisance too great to be endured, the number should be reduced by regular shoot- ing in the open season; but.
As soon as the proper balance of deer life has been restored, protect the does once more.
The pursuit of this policy is safe and sane, provided it can be wrought out without the influence of selfishness, and reckless disregard for the rightsofthenextgeneration. Onthewhole,itshandlingislikeplaying with fire, and I think there are very, very few states on this earth wherein it would be wise or safe to try it. As a wise friend once remarked to me, "Give some men a hinch, and they'll alwaj^s try to take a hell." In Vermont, however, the situation is kept so well in hand we may be sure that at the right moment the law providing for the decrease of the number of does will be repealed.
Hippopotami and Antelopes.—Last year a bill was introduced in the lower House of Congress proposing to provide funds for the intro- duction into certain southern states of various animals from Africa, especiallyhippopotamiandAfricanantelopes. Theformerwereproposed partly for the purpose of ridding navigation of the water hyacinths that