The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-04-12
ANOTHER GAME REFUGE
May Be Established in Vicinity OF
Of Vernon.

The Brattleboro Reformer Satur
day published the following:
For the most part the members Of
the Windham County Fish and Game
club had their introduction to State
and Game Commissioner Harold r.
Sheldon of Fair Haven last night in
the Chamber of Commerce rooms.
when the club held its annual meet
Ing and when Commissioner Sheldon
made his first public talk s.nce he
was appointed to that office. In
spite of the rainy night and the short
notice that Commissioner Sheldon
was to be present about 50 persons
attended the meeing, and they were
well pleased with the new department
head. President Charles a. Harris
presided
Several interesting and important
facts We're brought out during Mr.
Sheldons talk One OF these was
that County Fish and Game Warden
II. IL Metcalf of this place, of whom
the commissioner spoke in complimen
tary terms, was to- remain as county
warden the coming year. Another
was that Mr.. Sheldon has in mind the
establishment of game refuge near
Vernon trout rearing station, for the
proagab on of game birds.
A project in which all the club mem
bers were interested was outlined by
the speaker, who gave credit for the
plan to former Commissioner Linus
I4eayens and said that so far as he
knew it was the first plan of tho
kind in the United States and declar.
ed that the department would under.
take to carry it out and would ex
tend the policy if the tr al of the pro
ject, which IS about to be inaugurated
worked out we'll
This plan, in which Mr.. Sheldon
Mr. Leavens and Mr. Metcalf took the
initial steps yesterday, is designed to
bring about cooperation between the
department and the farmer in the
matter Of trout fishing. Athens brook
was selected for the first experiment
and an agreement was entered into
between the state and some of the
owners of and through which the
brook and its tributaries flow. Under
! this agreement the state will close
| permanently and stock the feeders
and the headwaters OF the brook with
fry and fngerlings every year. Any
| land owner who so desires may stock
at his own expense that section of the
brook which is on his land, putting
in each year either 1000 fry or 300
| fngerlngs for each hall.mile of
brook on his land, which gives him
the privilege of posting the brook
within the limits of his premises and
the exclusive right to fish in such sec
ton of the brook in the open season,
although he can give permission to
others All other sections of the
brook will be open to the public, and
its fishing is expected to be greatly
improved by constant supply of fish
from the closed areas. MIR. Sheldon
said Mr. Leavens had considered the
scheme from all angles, and the speak
er expressed his hearty approval of it.
The fish will be planted by the county
warden.
With reference to the Vernon pant
Mr., Sheldon said he had talked the
matter over with Mr. Leavens and
wanted to open a hatchery there this
spring, but was unable to get a good
fish culturist He also wished to de.
fer action until he knew more about
the department finances
He said he had considered another
project for this corner Of the state, aud
that was the plan of game bird propa-
Igation, the winters here being less Sc.
we're than in other parts of the state
Hi1 idea is to establish game refuge
close to the hatchery and to stock it
with pheasants or Hungarian part.
ridges He said he knew the location
was ideal for trout and he believed one
staff could operate both tho hatchery
and the game refuge at less expense
than If they were operated separately
Speaking of the warden system, Mr.
Sheldon said he would like to see tho
wardens paid enough money so they
could devote their whole time to the
work, aud he would like to have them
guaranteed that their tenure of Office
would not be subject to political
changes. but would be retained as long
as they were efficient He would have
IA or Is wardens and would do away
with the county designations, making
the wardens subject to change from
one part of the state to another in
the interest Of the avoidance of petty
jealousies but he presumed 1t might
ID, l. 10 h,.tp N al,