206 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Mr. Robert C. Pruyn, Albany, N. Y., {President Commercial Bank, and Proprietor 

 Santanoni Park in Essex County?) — I am inclined to believe that the greatest destruc- 

 tion of deer comes from the continuous killing, in and out of season, by the permanent 

 residents. 



I think that the prohibition of killing does would do us good, and that floating at 

 night should be prohibited. Perhaps the best law would be to prohibit killing deer in 

 the water, in which case hounding would be unobjectionable. This law, also, would 

 be the easiest to enforce. 



In our neighborhood I believe that the deer are steadily increasing in number. A 

 difficulty is here presented that the laws necessary for open lands are not necessary for 

 private preserves. 



Mr. Ferd. W. Chase, Loon Lake, Franklin County, N. Y, (Proprietor Loon Lake 

 House.) — The sentiment in this vicinity toward the preservation of wild deer is that 

 there must be protection for them at once, or we will soon have none to protect. I 

 know that the majority of our people in Franklin, the town in which I reside, voice 

 me in saying, " Enact a law that will do away with hounding, jacking and still-hunting 

 for a term of years." This may, to you, seem strong. But since the two railroads 

 have been built in and through the heart of the woods it has been very easy for sports- 

 men to reach the game, while pot-hunters from the outside towns, also from across 

 Lake Champlain, in Vermont, have overrun us. These people are half-guides, and 

 own dogs. They come here at the last moment to prey on the game that we aim to 

 protect. 



In many places hotel guests are already gone, houses closed, legitimate guides at 

 home, none receiving employment from these people. The average guide now admits 

 that a deer's track to him, when the pleasure season is on, is worth more than a car- 

 cass. I have lived here eighteen years ; have seen the people who are my neighbors 

 and acquaintances become educated up to the fact that wild deer are valuable as an 

 attraction to this, the Adirondacks. They are a feature. In proof of this we have a 

 small herd of nine in a small park of five acres. Parties come ten to twenty miles 

 from other hotels to see the deer. Now if the law is not soon changed all the deer to 

 be seen will be those so held. 



All the game protectors can do aids but little ; they have too much territory to 

 look after ; no one finds fault with them ; they are doing all they can. 



Capt. Chaunccy P. Williams, Albany, N. Y, (Proprietor of Jersey field Preserve, 

 Hamilton County) — Make hounding at any time illegal ; it is the only way to preserve 

 the deer in the Adirondacks. The entire prevention of deer hunting for two years at 

 least, would have an advantageous effect. 



