44 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



season. Prior to that the still-hunting was difficult work, owing to the dense foliage, 

 which was late in falling this year, and the dryness and rustling of the leaves 

 underfoot. 



Prior to this season no albinos or white deer have been killed in the Adirondacks 

 for a great many years. Occasionally, at long intervals, one has been reported as 

 seen, and as this happened each time during the close season it was allowed to go 

 unharmed. But this year the hunters succeeded in killing two of this rare variety. 

 One of them, included in the shipment from Port Henry, was shot near North 

 Hudson by Mr. John Greenough. The animal, a two-year-old buck, is described by 

 those who saw it as being perfectly white, with pink ears. Another noticeable pecu- 

 liarity was its very short legs. 



The other one was shot near the Boreas Ponds by Mr. Clark Cox, a gamekeeper 

 on Mr. George R. Finch's preserve. It was a young buck with pink eyes and a 

 spotless coat of white. 



The weights of the various carcasses as given in the shipping bills indicate that 

 our Adirondack deer are larger and heavier than the same species in Michigan and 

 the Northwest, judging from the description of the latter as given by Judge Caton, 

 a well-known authority on this subject.'^ It would appear, also, from other sources 

 of information that our deer will compare favorably in weight and size with those 

 in Maine and Canada. I noted thirty-two shipments in which the dressed weights 

 ranged from 200 to 235 pounds. Under the rule for determining the live weight by 

 adding one-fourth to the dressed weight, these deer when shot weighed from 250 to 

 294 pounds, without making allowance for what may have been lost by drying out 

 while they were hanging " on the pole " in camp. The rule referred to will always 

 enable one to determine the live weight closely. It is based on records kept for 

 several years at Lewey Lake and at Meacham Lake. At each of these places there 

 were scales at the boat landing where all the deer were brought in, which enabled 

 the hunters to weigh the carcasses before and after dressing. I have seen the rule 

 tested quite often, and always with a satisfactory result, the variations being very 

 slight. 



In conclusion I wish to acknowledge here the kindly consideration which the 



Board has accorded at all times to my various suggestions or requests ; also, the 



cordial support and co-operation which I have received from each official connected 



with the Commission. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



WILLIAM F. FOX, 



Superintendent State Forests. 



*The Antelope and Deer of America, by John Dean Caton, LL.D.: New York. Forest and Stream 

 Publishing Company ; Second Edition, 1881. 



