204 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Appended to this report I have the honor to submit a digest of the opinions of 

 many prominent citizens, sportsmen, guides, hunters, and residents of the Adirondacks 

 in relation to that part of the Game Law which provides for the protection of deer. On 

 the blank forms sent out to the correspondents who furnished the statistics for the 

 number of deer killed, a request was inserted in each that the correspondent should 

 give his opinion as to what change would be desirable in the law, together with such 

 information regarding the Adirondack deer as he might be able to impart. 



William F. Fox, 



Superintendent of Forests. 



Digest of Reports and Opinions Relating to tl)e Adirondack 

 Deer and to ti)c Lavs for tt)eir Protection. . 



Dr. Samuel B. Ward, Albany, N. Y, President Upper Saranac Association. — There 

 has been no change, of any importance, in the deer law during the past eight years ; 

 and I think there is no doubt in the minds of unprejudiced persons, who are in a posi- 

 tion to know of their personal knowledge the facts in the case, that during that time 

 the number of deer in the Adirondacks has increased. It would not, therefore, seem 

 necessary to make the law any more stringent. On the other hand, I do not 

 believe that it would be safe or wise to advocate any relaxation in the stringency of 

 the law. 



My experience with the game laws — and I have had quite a little — is very strongly 

 on the side of letting well enough alone. In other words, I would advise making no 

 effort to get any change. 



Dr. William Seward Webb, New York City, {Proprietor Nehasane Park, Herkimer 

 and Hamilton Counties, N. Y.) — If hounding were prohibited entirely it would do more 

 to save the deer than almost any other arrangement. Very few deer, comparatively, 

 are killed still-hunting, particularly after the middle of September. It is only when 

 the deer are changing their coats and are coming to water, in the latter part of August 

 and first part of September, that many are killed in that way. 



I have talked with quite a number of prominent sportsmen here in New York, and 

 they all think that the close season should be extended, if possible, to the 15th of Sep- 



