246 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



TI)e Animal F)iU 



YEAR. CARCASSES. SADDLES. HEADS. 



igoo 1,020 89 95 



I9OI I,o62 IO3 121 



i9° 2 I >354 113 *93 



1903 1,961 145 188 



1904 1,618 124 152 



From this table it appears that those who predicted that the aggregate 

 number of deer killed during the past season would prove to be considerably 

 smaller than the number killed during the open season for several years 

 past were mistaken in their judgment. The figures show that the hunters 

 procured a greater number of deer in 1904 than they did in any previous 

 season except that of 1903 which showed an unusual increase, and which 

 was noted at the time. 



Attention is also called to the gratifying results of the investigation 

 made by your order as to the mortality among the deer, the published 

 reports of which were at one time so alarming. Undoubtedly a number of 

 deer died in the Adirondacks and on Long Island, last spring, from causes 

 which were not generally understood; but it will be highly satisfactory to 

 sportsmen to know that there was no general epidemic in the forest, and that 

 there was no widespread destruction among the herds of deer. The investiga- 

 tion shows that these deaths occurred in well defined localities and from 

 natural causes. 



Appended will be found the reports of the autopsies performed on 

 specimen deer brought down from the woods to the Bender Labratory in 

 this city, and the highly interesting deductions drawn therefrom by Dr. 

 Samuel B. Ward, who is as well known for his scientific attainments as he 

 is for his familiarity with the Great Northern Forest. 



A statement in detail of the shipments of deer from the Adirondacks 

 is again made possible through the courtesy of Superintendent John L. 

 Van Valkenburgh, of the American Express Company and Superintendent 

 T. N. Smith, of the National Express Company, who have furnished the 

 following figures from their books: 



