2l8 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Many deer are wounded in night-hunting that are never captured. They are 

 wounded badly, and in nine cases out of ten they die and are never found In 

 still-hunting, or stalking, the deer has an equal chance with the sport, and in most 

 every case the hunter can tell whether the deer is a buck or a doe. 



I am confident that if hounding and jack or night-hunting were prohibited, deer in 

 the Adirondacks would increase. I am confident that there were more deer killed out 

 of season this year by jack-hunting than in still-hunting, in this locality. 



Hounding should be prohibited. Jack-hunting should be prohibited. Give the 

 deer an equal chance, and I will guarantee they will increase. 



Mr. W. P. Merrill, Merrill, Clinton County, N. Y. {Hotel Proprietor at Chatcaugay 

 Lake.) — Deer will not increase much in this locality under the present law. Hounding 

 should be entirely prohibited, and about four months of still hunting allowed — say, in 

 August, September, October and November. Deer would soon be very plentiful if 

 the hounds were kept from them. 



I wish to say a few words in regard to the trout law. Wade-fishing in streams, or 

 fishing from the banks of streams that are not navigable for small boats should be 

 prohibited. The wade-fisherman is striking the death blow to our trout fishing, and 

 it certainly is a great shame. The birthplace and home of the speckled trout, until 

 they are four or five inches long, is in the swift water ; and as they grow larger they 

 move into deeper water. Therefore, if they were unmolested in the swift waters of 

 the brooks and rivers they would, after growing to the proper size, move into deeper 

 waters navigable for small boats, where the sportsmen would have good fly fishing 

 with a constant supply of uneducated trout from the swift waters. A law of this kind 

 rigidly enforced would soon do away with the necessity of stocking lakes and streams 

 with brook trout from hatcheries. This is my opinion after twenty-five years of life 

 among the deer and trout. 



Mr. L. M. Lester, Ozul's Head, Franklin County, N. Y. (Postmaster.) — It would be a 

 good idea to do away with hunting for five years if you want any deer in this locality. 



Mr. Clarence A. Me Arthur, Paul Smith's Post Office, Franklin County, N. Y. 

 {Lumberman and Hotelkeeper.) — I think there are two deer here now where there was 

 one ten years ago. The feed for them in this locality is unsurpassed. It is the most 

 natural park for deer in the Adirondacks. There are thousands of acres of land that 

 have been burned over, and are now growing up to pine, white birch and poplar, with 

 grass and ferns, also. If the present laws are observed, deer will increase as long as 

 nature exists. The most of the does killed here seemed, for some cause unknown, to 

 be barren. Some seem to think it was from lack of bucks. Deer ought not to be hunted 

 before September 1st, on account of fawns. Many object to hounding, because they 



