FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 305 



200 and 300 pounds; thirty-six between ioo and 200 pounds. Thirty-three 

 weighed less than 100 pounds. The weights of two were not given. The 

 average live weight of bears killed in this State has been ascertained, from 

 the records of the past year, to be 174 pounds. 



Tf)e Reaver 



The beaver is rapidly increasing in numbers in the Adirondacks, and 

 the effort to reintroduce this animal appears to be a complete success. 

 Mr. Radford, who has visited various sections of the North Woods during 

 the past few months for the purpose of making a census of the wild animals, 

 estimates the present number of beavers at seventy-five. He says that 

 ten years ago there were not more than a dozen beavers in the Adirondacks, 

 probably less. 



Only one beaver has been liberated during the past year. That was 

 released by Mr. George A. Stevens, proprietor of the Stevens House, at 

 L..ke Placid, on a brook entering the head of the lake. Mr. Stevens 

 expects to liberate others. 



The Legislature of 1906 appropriated $1,000 for continuing the restock- 

 ing of the Adirondacks with beaver ; and the Commission has arranged with 

 the Secretary of the Interior for a shipment of twenty-five from the Yellow- 

 stone Park. They will be liberated as soon as received. 



The beavers released by the State in 1905 have made themselves 

 entirely at home in their new environment. They have built dams and 

 erected houses in several places in Hamilton and Herkimer counties, and 

 appear to be increasing satisfactorily. A newspaper item, very generally 

 printed toward the latter part of last May, is interesting in this connection. 

 It stated that: " While on a tour of inspection in the Upper Saranac Lake 

 country, Commissioner Whipple found along Fish creek, which runs into 

 Saranac lake from Floodwood, signs of a colony of at least twelve beaver 

 which had felled about 170 trees during the spring months. 



'This demonstrates, he believes, that beaver are not only numerous 

 but exceedingly active. Last fall the beaver colony in this locality felled 

 ninety-six trees. 



' The Commissioner also made the discovery that two trappers have 

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