Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-05
|}ERSEY STARTS FIGHT
'ON DEER AND RABBITS
state Board Contends Pro-
tected Game Is Nuisance
to Farmers
MOSQUITO COSTLY PEST
Instruction of Infested Spots Worth
s5OO,OOO.OOO in Twenty
Years
TRENTON Ian ,

TRENTON. Jan. 3.
There is no room for free. hunting
N New Jersey. especially of deer and
r.bb,s. aud the state must deal with
.the nucston Of whether the farmer or
INC deer are to he protected, according
~ the annual report of the state De-
partmcnt of Conservation and Develops
ment submitted to Governor Edge to-
day
II is pointed out that farmers h I've
suffered destruction to their crops by
both deer and rabbits during, the last
war. the small farmers suffering much
more than the larger ones. The board
emphatically states that in an organized
state like New Jersey these two types
cf game should not he protected by law.
The beard says it feels that It is not
4 fair deal for owners Of farms and
woodland to he forced to feed and shell
ter wild game that is pursued by other
persons on private property under the
shelterine wing of a State statute. II
Is asserted that the issue will not be
met by increasing the fee for hunting
licenses, and from tue receipts for
damage created by the animals. be-
cause the burden of proof again falls
upon those whom the State should pro-
tcct.
Reference - made to the fact that
last spring. when every effort of tho
farmers in all parts of the state was
bcing bent to increase food production
large numbers OF deer departed from
The woods and greatly damaged or de-
stroyed crops that were in their
growth.
There have been fewer complaints
against rabbits. il is said. but this kind
- al, ,tt,.l, Il ,,,
dens and orchards. while 1t Is asserted
that tho hunter who is in quest Of them
does more destruction than the animal.
Many forest fires have occurred be-
cause gunnerS have been careless in the
woods and fortune in damage was the
result.
Another feature of the report Is the
statement that il s75O.O00 were spent
within the next five years to climinat to
the salt marsh mosquito. there would
be an increase In the real estate valua-
tIon of not less than $500, 900. 900 in
twenty years. The report says there Is
n question whether New Jersey could
better spend the amount to get the re-
suit predicted. The marshes of Bergen.
Essex, Union. Niddlcsex and Monmouth
Counties have been so nearly drained
that the original area of infestation Is
reduced TO a very small amount those
Of Ocean and Atlantic have been well
advanced and Cape May has made a
good beginning but in Burlington.
Cumberland and Salem about 1901
acres, or about onc-third of the entire
salt marsh of the state, stil remain
untouched. 1t is stated that thirteen
counties this year arc spending s2I3.5S5
to eXterminate the pest
The report shows the forest fire scrv.
ice had fought 272 fires Of all kinds
which was the largest number since
1915. The no Ird agrees with tho
State policy of eliminating contracts at
the State Prison and employment OF
convicts on necessary work fer the
State in occupations like rccla inning
salt marshes and eliminating mosquitoes
Tn the belief of me board. there is
no appreciable quantity of oil TO be
found In South Jersey. such as has been
advertised by land promoters.