FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 1 43 



lature such additional enactments as we deem necessary for the government of such 

 reservation with a view to making the same the most useful to the people as a part of 

 an international park on the St. Lawrence River. 



As the subject matter of this plan is somewhat foreign to the duties placed on us 

 by the act under which this Commission was appointed, it was deemed necessary to 

 make a tour of said reservation and investigate as to the circumstances and needs of 

 that locality. 



Accordingly in the month of September, 1896, we personally went to said river 

 and along the shores thereof and among its islands and found the circumstances as 

 follows : 



This river has become during the last few years a great summer or water resort 

 for the people of the State of New York and of the Dominion of Canada. The 

 boundary line between the two countries divides the Thousand Islands therein located 

 nearly equally between Canada and this State. Nearly all of the smaller islands and 

 many of the points of land on the large islands and on the main shores of that river 

 have been built upon. In many instances improvements have been made by indi- 

 vidual owners to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars and the aggregate 

 outlay would amount to several millions. The State of New York does not own any 

 islands nor any main land there. The Dominion of Canada has already parted with 

 the possession of many of its islands on its side of the line and does not own any of 

 the main shore. The healthful climate and attractive fishing ofTered by this great 

 body of pure, cold, fresh water, brings to this section annually thousands of seekers 

 of health and pleasure, not only from the State of New York, but from the Southern 

 and Western States, and many prominent people from Europe also stop there, a few 

 days at least, to fish and have an outing while making a tour of the country. 



The best fishing is remote from the great resorts and boarding-houses, and there 

 are no suitable camping places for canoeists, excursionists, camping parties, anglers 

 and the people generally, who desire to spend a few days or a longer time at the 

 desirable points, and we, therefore, urge the propriety of providing small pieces of 

 land at convenient places to be owned by the State and to be kept free for the public 

 use, and to provide boat landings, camping and picnic sites, etc. 



The Canadian Government, under a mutual understanding that this State would 

 reciprocate, has already set aside twenty-five of the islands for unrestricted use of 

 boating and picnic parties of both countries. It is quite generally understood by our 

 Canadian friends that our people will provide, for similar uses, several islands or pieces 

 of land along the shore of the St. Lawrence River, and it is also understood by the 

 people of that locality that if our State does not provide such public places, then the 

 right to use the Canadian islands, by our people, will be withdrawn. 



