The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-29
NEW GA MEPR RISER Y E
200 Acre Tract in Middlebury Being Fitted as State
 Reservation.
GIFT OF JAS. D. WHITM0RE
Only Preserve Under old Act---GeneraI Movement for Game Pres
 ervation.

In the movement toward the pfotee- ton of the game, birds and fish ot the state, two important steps forward have been taken within the past week Both are highly gratifying to the fish and game commission and ought to do much to preserve what game we still have in the state, Nearly all kinds of game and many birds can now be shot almost indIscriminately during the season, owing to the fact that there. are almost no adequate preserves
 It was stated yesterday that in all probability the present deer law will be rescinded by the incoming general assembly, and without some preserves or parks, In a short time all the deer will again leave the state, But the game birds need even more protection than the deer, and much of the work of the commission Is in this direction,
 It has just been learned that the state has secured a twenty-five year lease of one of the finest natural pre- serves in the state Under an act of the legislature passed several years dBu ull NilAtll lb bIlf lluN S''l llA " avail himself of up to the present time, James D. Whitmore has, for the nominal rental of five dollars turned over to the state a tract of about two hundred acres in Mddlebury.
 This land is quite Ideal for a pre- serve In every respect II Is a wood ed tract, mostly on q southerly slope, on the edge Of puassapug lake. There are several good streams in t, so that lt Is well fitted for both game and fish, Moreover, most of it ls covered with shrub and brush growth which makes it an ideal nesting place for birds
 Mr. Whitmore Is himself quite er- thusiastc over the project and has gone to some expense to equip the tract for a preserve. He has put up number of feeding and shelter sheds for the animals, fenced in large part of tho land and fitted it up in other ways so that there will be very little outlay necessary on the part of the state These feeding sheds are quito work of art and look go much like the surrounding scenery that it would take clever animal to know they we're not put there by nature herself In those sheds food will be placed for the animals when necessary and they soon learn where they can find food and protection from the hunter. The tract has an advantafe in this respect in that MT Whitmore has never al- lowed shooting on' fl and it is already a preserve in nature
 Commissioner Champion yesterday called attention to the fact that tt ie especially necessary ln this state to feed the useful and game birds So little grain is grown by tho farmers that tho birds could not got enough to eat here whore it not for the feeding in tho preserves
 II is not expected that any steps will he taken for stocking tho pre- serve at present, as the game will soon l find fits way Into it Aside from tho tracts used for forestry work, this ls l inc only real preserve In the state. and 1 it is hoped that this win prove al incentive for the setting aside of other places
 The other recent step fin the diree roration Of the Mddlesev County Gamc and Fish association formed for thr protection or game and Ash and [, i prosecute violators of tho laws md {, use the influence of tho association wltH senators and representatives to tb, state legislature to obtoin the passage of just and equitable laws as may b, necessary to protect tho game md dsl of Inc state.
 Each county Is finally to be assoeiat ed with every other county club in ' state organization.
 The members are determined lo pu an end 10 tho snaring of birds rhe' favor protection more than importation
 This is all part of general move. men to organize the hunters Of the stat,
 into an organization having the com mon object of preserving the presen stock of game
 That measures such as the above ar, necessary if we are to have any Ram' at all in tho state after few years i acknowledged by All the real sports men. In view of this there ia a genera regret that the deer law seems certah Of repeal Tt has been suggested tha the law might not be so violently oh iected to on the part of the farmers [ they had realized and taken advantaR of tts clauses for their protection. Tn animals have undoubtedly become nuisance in some ways, but lt is al easy matter for a farmer, 10 recoyo damages from the state If his crops ar
 Injured 10 the extent of twenty dol