FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 195 



In Herkimer Count} — In Townships 6, 7, and 8 of John Brown's Tract ; in the 

 vicinity of the Fulton Chain and Big Moose Lakes ; and on the lands of the Adiron- 

 dack League Club in the Moose River Tract. 



In Lewis Count] — In the towns of Croghan, Diana, and Greig ; and around Otter 

 Lake and along the West Branch of the Oswegatchie. 



In St. Lawrence County — In the townships of Clare, Clifton, Emilyville, Chau- 

 mont, Bloomfield, Hollywood, Kildare, Matildaville, Parishville, and Wick ; and along 

 the Oswegatchie and Raquette Rivers. 



It would be interesting to know how many live deer there are in the great forests 

 of Northern New York. The question is frequently asked, and the probable number 

 has been a source of much discussion and difference of opinion. There is no possible 

 way of arriving definitely at the number, and it is doubtful if any computation could 

 be made that would at all approximate accuracy. Estimates have been made by 

 many who are familiar with the region and who are experienced in deer hunting. 

 These estimates vary all the way from five thousand to sixty thousand, which is not 

 surprising as none of them were based on the area of the region, without a knowledge 

 of which no intelligent calculation can be made. 



It is not proposed to submit any estimate here on the total number of live deer in 

 the Adirondack forests, as any such conjecture is outside the province of this report. 

 But some figures and suggestions are respectfully offered which may be of assistance 

 to anyone who wants to arrive at some idea as to the number. 



A good way to approach the problem would be to agree on the average number 

 of deer on some definite area, a hundred acres or so, and then divide the entire area 

 of the forests by this smaller one. The quarter section — 160-acre lot — would make a 

 good unit for computation. It was used most in the allotment of Northern New 

 York, and as it is just one-half mile square its area is familiar to all and readily 

 comprehended. 



Now, there are 3,588,803 acres of contiguous forest or wild land in the entire 

 Adirondack region, or the equivalent of 22,430 lots (160 acres), each one-half mile 

 square. For illustration, let it be supposed that there is one deer, on an average, for 

 each half mile square ; not one on every such area, but one on the average. There 

 are many such areas on which there is not a single deer, while on others there are 

 several. But, if on an average there is one for each half-mile lot, then there would be 

 22,430 live deer in the Adirondacks ; and, if they will average two to the half-mile 

 square, there must be 44,860, and so on. 



With this system anyone can make a reasonable estimate if he has enough famil- 

 iarity with the frequency of deer tracks, the ease or difficulty of "starting" deer in 



