246 Fourth Annual Keport of the 



no evidence to show that a single one of the five victims was shot 

 at in mistake for a deer. 



Out of the twenty-two hunting accidents reported to the Con- 

 servation Commission up to the close of the deer season, seventeen 

 occurred in the pursuit of small game, attended by five deaths. 

 Although most of the casualties indicated gross carelessness on 

 the part of the hunters, the sportsmen of the State are undoubtedly 

 exercising more care than ever before in the handling of weapons. 

 When it is remembered that there are over 200,000 licensed hunt- 

 ers in the State, besides thousands who can legally hunt on their 

 own farms without licenses, the list of only a score of accidents 

 is reducing casualties in pursuit of a hazardous sport to the 

 minimum. 



The death of Donald Curran, a lumberjack of Old Forge, whose 

 body was found October 23 in the woods about one mile from the 

 outlet of Kiln Lake by Herbert Hillard, is included in the list of 

 five deer hunting fatalities. The man had been dead about ten 

 days. He had a gun and pack basket. The first reports on the 

 case were to the effect that Curran had probably been struck by 

 a stray bullet, but the coroner is investigating to ascertain if it 

 might have been murder. 



Ellis Shimmel, aged 20, of Mohawk, while hunting deer on 

 Xovember 8, in the town of Colton, slipped and fell as he was 

 crossing a rustic bridge, resulting in the accidental discharge of 

 his own rifle. The bullet entered his body, causing death. 



Edward Mcintosh, aged 30, of Carthage, hunting deer with his 

 father, Henry Mcintosh, and his brother, Easter Mcintosh, near 

 Harrisville, October 9, was hit in the breast by a buck shot and 

 seriously wounded. The father claims he shot at a running buck 

 with a shot gun and did not know his son was in range. 



Mark Carey, a guide of Sodom, was shot in the thigh while 

 hunting in a party of seven in the vicinity of the Chatiemac Club. 

 A deer was surrounded by the hunters. Carey and another hunter 

 fired at the animal about the same time, his friend's bullet's strik- 

 ing him instead of the game. Carey is recovering. 



John Lawless, of Gabriels, hunting deer on Osgood river, near 

 Paul Smith's, sat in boat with muzzle of gun pointing towards 

 him. In reaching for the gun it slipped and hit the rib of boat and 

 contents of barrel was discharged into his abdomen, killing him. 



