FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 1 39 



Tt)e Wild Animals. 



Number of Deer Taken During the Season — Condition op the Elk and 



Moose — Black Bear and Beaver. 



It will be a matter of satisfaction to all sportsmen to know that the statistics 

 show a steady increase in the number of Deer in the State forests. No better 

 argument can be advanced in favor of the present system of protection, and it is 

 believed that local interests are steadily becoming convinced that the laws as they 

 exist are for the good of all concerned. The eagerness with which information is 

 sought as to the success of the hunters annually is an evidence of the widespread 

 interest that is taken in these returns, affecting, as they do, a very large number 

 of those who derive a considerable portion of their income from the sportsmen 

 who seek a few weeks recreation in the forest, as well as from the transportation 

 lines whose business is materially increased by the hunting season. 



Adirondack Deer. 



From the statistics furnished by the American and the National Express Com- 

 panies the following figures, showing the shipments of Deer, have been compiled : 



Year. 



1900 ......... 



1901 . . 



I902 



1903 ......... 



The percentage of increase in the shipments, which last season was about 

 thirty per cent, is seen this season to be more than forty-four per cent over that 

 of the previous year. Following the apparently reasonable rule that for each 

 Deer shipped out at least four others are killed in the woods, it can be readily 

 seen how greatly they have increased under our present laws. 



According to the carefully compiled figures of the shipments furnished by 

 Mr. John L. Van Valkenburgh, Superintendent of the American Express Com- 

 pany, and Mr. T. N. Smith, Superintendent of the National Express Company, 

 the number of Deer sent out of the Adirondacks by hunters during the season 

 just closed was shown to be as follows: 



Carcasses. 



Saddles. 



Heads. 



1,020 



89 



95 



1,062 



103 



121 



■ i,3S4 



IJ 3 



1 93 



. 1,961 



145 



188 



