FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 303 



TI)e F\oo$z 



The Legislature last spring appropriated the sum of $2,149.73 for 

 continuing the purchase of wild moose and their liberation in the Adiron- 

 dack^. This was the lapsed (unexpended) balance of the original moose 

 appropriation of 1901. The Commission is at present negotiating for the 

 purchase of ten of these animals. 



The restocking of the Adirondacks with moose never obtained a fair 

 impetus, as but fifteen moose were purchased with the original appropriation 

 in 1902 and 1903, and about half of these were bulls. Several of the cows 

 were, unfortunately, killed at the very outset of the experiment, so that it 

 received a serious check almost at its inception. There are a few moose in 

 the Adirondacks at present, but not a sufficient number to perpetuate the 

 race without additions to the stock. Game Protector Ball reports one from 

 the vicinity of Beaver River, which was seen some weeks ago. 



It is believed by friends of the project that no insurmountable difficulty 

 confronts the plan to restore the moose, and that it is merely a question of 

 liberating a sufficient number to offset the mishaps which are always likely 

 to occur in the early stages of an enterprise of this kind. It has been clearly 

 demonstrated, in the case of the elk and the beaver, that wild animals 

 native to the region can be successfully reintroduced in the Adirondacks, 

 and as this section was until fifty years ago abundantly supplied with 

 moose, and as the conditions affecting the subsistence of this animal are 

 substantially the same now as they were then, there seems to be no good 

 reason why the experiment should not be continued. 



Tl)e $lad^ §ear 



The number of wild black bears killed in this State during the year end- 

 ing June 30, 1906, was greater than the number killed during the preceding 

 year. The table which follows shows the number of bears reported killed 

 in each county. As protection is not accorded the bear in Essex countv, 

 no reports are received from that county. The returns made for bounties 

 show, however, that fifty-two bears were killed there during 1906. In the 

 town of Wilmington, one man, Mr. Asa Lawrence, killed thirteen. The 

 value of the sheep killed by bears in this town alone is placed at S3 00. 



