the practical handling of the
damage question,--let us take the experience and the fine example of
Vermont.

In April, 1875, a few sportsmen of Rutland, of whom the late Henry W.
Cheney was one, procured in the Adirondacks thirteen white-tailed deer,
six bucks and seven does. These were liberated in a forest six miles
from Rutland, and beyond being protected from slaughter, they were left
to shift for themselves. They increased, slowly at first, then rapidly,
and by 1897, they had become so numerous that it seemed right to have a
short annual open season, and kill a few. From first to last, many of
those deer have been killed contrary to law. In 1904-5, it was known
that 294 head were destroyed in that way; and undoubtedly there were
others that were not reported.

ACCOUNT OF DEER KILLED IN VERMONT, OF RECORD SINCE KILLING
BEGAN, IN 1897

_From John W. Titcomb, State Game Commissioner, Lyndonville, Vt.,
Aug. 23, 1912_

By By By Wounded By By Average Gross
Year Hunters, Hunters, Dogs Deer Railroad Various Weight Weight
Legally Illegally Killed Trains Accidents (lbs.) (lbs.)

1897* 103 47
1898 131 30 40 3
1899 90
1900 123
1901 211
1902 403 81 50 13 14 171 68,747
1903 753 199 190 142,829
1904 541
1905 497 163 74 22 18 17 198
1906 634 200 127,193
1907 991 287 208 62 31 21 196 134,353
1908 2,208 207 457,585
1909 4,597 381 168 69 24 72 155 716,358

* First open season after deer restored to state in 1875.

DAMAGES TO CROPS BY DEER.--For several years past, the various counties
of Vermont have been paying farmers for damages inflicted upon their
crops by deer. Clearly, it is more just that counties should settle
these damages than that they should be paid from the state treasury,
because the counties paying damages have large compensation in the value
of the deer killed each year. The hunting appears to be open to all
persons who hold licenses from the state.

In order that the public at large may know the cost of the Vermont
system, I offer the following digest compiled from the last biennial
report of the State Fish and Game Commissio