FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 222 



The writer is not inclined to be a kicker, or to find fault with the Commission We 

 have no doubt they aim to do the best that can be done under the circumstances; bu1 

 this circular asks for my opinion, and if I give it at all I must give it from facts based 

 on mv own experience. If the Commission would appoint a sufficient number of good 

 game protectors whose duty should be to locate in different sections of the Adiron- 

 dacks, each one to dress in uniform and each to look after a certain prescribed section 

 of the country three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, give them a good salary, 

 and in every case where they neglect to attend to their duty cut their heads off with- 

 out delay, then the game would be preserved. No business man can deny the fact that 

 if he owned the grounds as an individual he would take the above course to preserve 

 the game. 



Mr. David G. Helms, Long Lake, Ham i /ton County, X. Y. {State Forester and Game 

 Protector.) — There is no question about the deer in this territory being on the increase. 

 I am traveling in the woods nearly even- da}-, and have a good chance to know some- 

 thing about the deer, as I have always been interested in their protection. There has 

 been the least illegal hunting this fall that I have ever known. 



JLr. William Harris, Hope Centre, Hamilton County, X. Y. {Lumberman and Owner 

 of Forest Lands.) — If the law is lived up to, and no deer killed out of season, we will 

 have plenty of deer in this locality. The worst feature in the present law is night- 

 hunting. The hunters leave a great many wounded deer that crawl off in the brush 

 and die; and they can't find them in the dark. I knew several such cases years ago,' 

 when I had men working for me around lakes. 



Mr. Charles H. Wood, North Elba, Essex County, X. V. [Guide and Hunter.) — It 

 seems to be the general opinion that if the hounding season was shortened it would be 

 better. 



Mr. J. H. Kirby, Brainardsville, X. Y. (Hotel Proprietor on Lower Chateaugay L^ake.) 

 — The question of deer hunting and the law regulating the same is a very interesting 

 one to me. I live during the summer by the side of the Lower Chateaugay Lake, one 

 of the most beautiful bodies of water in the Adirondacks. I was born within two miles 

 of this spot and have lived here fifty years. 



From my earliest recollection this has been a famous hunting ground, especially for 

 deer. In my boyhood there was only one or two summer hotels on the lakes and the 

 outside visitors were few, but those who did come were treated to venison and trout 

 from June till December. Few hounds were known. The favorite way of getting deer 

 was by still-hunting; and there were but few men skillful enough to get a deer. 

 Within a few years all this has changed. Dozens of hounds are now owned within a 

 few miles of the lake, and from the first day of the hounding season till the last, the 



