72 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 25, 18U6, 
ADIRONDACK DEER. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your last week's issue appeared two articles from 
your able correspondents, Messrs. Oliver and Spears, who 
take the most common sense view of the situation, and 
solve at once the problem which is now being agitated in 
reference to the better protection of our Adirondack deer. 
Living in the Adirondacks all the year, I can vouch for the 
truth of the statements of your correspondents. From 
personal knowledge of the facts I would say that the pro- 
portion killed by hounding is understated. More than 
six deer are killed by hounding and floating where 
one is killed by all other methods combined. 
The simplest remedy must be apparent to all, 
namely, prohibit hounding and floating. There can be 
no effectual protection of deer so long as hunting them 
with dogs is permitted. To shorten the season for hound- 
ing might prevent a few deer being killed by sportsmen 
who .go into the woods and employ guides, and would not 
kill more than the legal number of deer— but it would 
make but little difference with the horde of people who 
live all around the borders of the woods. Call them pot- 
hunters, meat-hunters or sportsmen — it does not matter; 
but this is the class that is decimating the deer. They oc- 
cupy every lake, pond and stream all around the woods, 
employ no guides and camp on the ground. If only one 
week of hounding was allowed all of this class of hunters 
would go to the woods during that week, and the woods 
would be so full of hunters and dogs that wherever a deer 
might run when fleeing from the hound it would be 
killed. One week would suffice to clean out all the deer 
"in a given locality. 
Some have suggested that to stop killing deer in the 
water would be a great protection. This would strike 
only honest sportsmen who employ guides, but it would 
afford no protection from the other class, for where are 
the game protectors to watch the hundreds of lakes and 
ponds? These hunters will not report each other. It 
would be an easy matter for the hunter to place himself 
where the deer will come out of the water and shoot the 
deer when it gets well on the bank. Besides, there is such 
a multitude of hunters that they kill hundreds of deer on 
the runways in the woods. I have known about 100 deer 
killed in one season along the road leading from Number 
Four to the State dam. This road runs parallel with the 
Beaver River. About 100 men and boys would string 
along this road within shooting distance of each other, 
then put out their dogs on the opposite side of the road. A 
deer when pursued by dogs almost invariably runs toward 
the river and is killed when crossing the road. I am 
credibly informed that one hunter took out from along 
this road thirty- five deer in one season. 
It is reported that during the past three or four years 
dead deer have been found in the woods during the latter 
part of the winter. Guides and hotel men that want 
hounding continued know the cause. But they endeavor 
to impose upon the ignorant by reporting the plausible 
story that deer are getting so plenty that they are starving 
to death. A moment's reflection will convince any man 
of common intelligence that this cannot be so. Away 
back in the fifties I traveled all through the Adirondacks 
during February and March on snowshoes. for the pur- 
pose of trapping marten and other furs. I have passed 
through deer yards where I have no doubt there were a 
thousand deer on two or three miles square. And in all 
my travels in the woods during fifty years I have never 
found a dead deer whose death could not be traced to 
other causes than starvation until the past four or five 
years, since hounding became general. It must be borne 
in mind too that at that time there were probably at least 
twenty deer in the Adirondacks where there is one now. 
Yet they found plenty of food to pull through the winter. 
There is as much food for deer as there ever was and 
only a comparatively few deer to be supported. 
The cause of deer dying of late is brought about by 
being run by dogs until overheated and then plunging into 
the cold water. What few deer escape the hunter are 
likely to be so crippled that they can't get about in the 
deep snows and then starve when plenty of food is all 
around them. I have seen deer on the bank of the North 
River in Essex county so crippled by being run into the 
cold water that they crawled out on the bank, laid down 
and died there, being unable to get on their legs again. I 
have come across deer while still hunting in the woods so 
crippled in the same way that they were hardly able to 
keep out of the way. Hounding is responsible for all the 
dead deer that have been found in the woods of late years. 
Again I assert that there will be no effectual deer pro- 
tection so long as even the shortest time is allowed for 
hounding. Deer dogs are rapidly increasing and are 
educated by being taken to the woods on the deep snow 
and allowed to kill a deer. The preservation of our 
Adirondack deer is made plain by your correspondent. 
Simply abolish hounding — the most inhuman, the most 
unsportsmanlike, the most destructive method of killing 
deer. Musset. 
Number Four, Jan. 13. 
where deer are started and the party owning the dogs 
fail to kill, the chances are that one of the other fellows 
got him. 
In one Of his letters the gentleman took me to task 
mildly for having in a recent article sent to Foeest and 
Stream suggested the cutting of the hounding season 
one-half instead of wiping it out altogether, and in this 
connection permit me to say that an amendment to pro- 
hibit hounding will always find in me an earnest advo- 
cate, and my only reason for suggesting a half-way meas- 
ure waB the idea that nothing better could be had at this 
session of the Legislature. The interest in tbe matter 
shown by Gov. Morton in his recent message may tend to 
bring about better results than I had anticipated, and the 
anti-hounding measure introduced by Senator Malby may 
become a part of our game law. I fear, however, that 
absolute prohibition of hounding and jacking will not be 
brought about until the scarcity of deer in the Adiron- 
dacks makes the necessity for action apparent to even the 
average legislator. This discouraging view of the case 
will not, however, deter me from doing everything in my 
power in the interests of the Malby bill, and trust that the 
effort in that direction will be general among the friends 
of game preservation and that we may succeed. 
M. Schenck. 
Troy, N. T., Jan. 18. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have recently received two letters, brimful of the 
right sort of game preservation ideas, from a valued 
friend and correspondent of Forest and Stream who has 
spent a lifetime in the Adirondacks, but I regret that I 
have not his permission to have them published, or I 
would send them to you. 
I, however, take the liberty of quoting from them, and 
as they are the opinions of one of such a long experience 
and a most careful observer they have — with me at least 
—a sort of ex cathedra weight. He says, "From my long 
experience I am satisfied that there can be no real deer 
protection so long as hounding is permitted, no matter if 
for only a week each year. " This gentleman's experience 
tells him that as soon as the hounding season opens, men, 
women, children and dogs living on the outskirts of the 
wilderness flock to the woods for meat after the manner 
of our Western Indians on their annual meat hunts, and, 
like Mr. Lo, these people are not sportsmen, employ no 
guides, &top at no regular camps or hotels, but camp on 
the trail and watch every lake, pond, stream and runway , 
and the chances for escape of any deer started by dogs 
belonging to them or anyone else are slim indeed. Again 
he says, "To become a successful deer butcher in the 
hounding season no experience is required; a dog, a boat, 
an old shotgun, even an axe or a club will answer, and 
the women and children can accomplish as much in a 
killing of this sort as men." I am satisfied that these 
statements, are correct and that in nine cases out of ten 
MARYLAND ASSOCIATION. 
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 17.— Many interesting things 
were done at the annual meeting of the Maryland Game 
and Fish Protective Association last night at the Carroll- 
ton Hotel. The meeting was largely attended by repre- 
sentative men from every section of the State. The rapid 
destruction of the game and fish of the State, was discussed 
from the standpoint of experience and study, and laws 
were recommended as absolutely necessary for the con- 
tinuance of Maryland's supply of gfime and fish. If the 
solons at Annapolis give a sympathetic ear to the delega- 
tions which the Association will send to offer these laws, 
there will be a closed season for 1896 for partridges, rab- 
bits and woodcock. If this law is passed and strictly en- 
forced, as the Association means to see it enforced, the 
Baltimore marKet for partridges, rabbits and woodcock 
will be sealed during the balance of the year. Anyone 
possessing these things for the proscribed term will suffer 
the penalty, so that that sort of game may not be sent to 
this market from other States. 
In addition to this protection to the game, the bill pro- 
vides for the appointment of a game warden by the Gov- 
ernor. This warden is to receive $1,000 a year and a 
share of the fines imposed on those caught violating the 
game laws. Game wardens will be appointed throughout 
the counties, and commissioned by the Governor, with the 
same power of arrest on sight as possessed by constables. 
The bill that is to protect bass, pike, pickerel and other 
game fish of the Potomac was also unanimously favored. 
This law was recently fully explained in The American. 
A law was proposed to prevent the pollution of streams 
of the State. 
Committees were appointed to frame laws for the 
betterment of the ducking interests of the Susquehanna, 
and for the staying of the destruction of food fishes on 
the Chesapeake, and for the propagation of insectivorous 
and song birds. Officers for the ensuing year were elected, 
and a number of new members elected. 
The meeting was called to order by the president, Judge 
D. G. Wright. There were present a number of gentle- 
men from various sections of the State, who represented 
branches of the organization in those counties. 
After the meeting had been called to order, the first 
business was the reading of the report of the law com- 
mittee, which had been instructed to frame certain laws 
to be asked of the Legislature. Mr. George Dobbin Pen- 
niman read these bills, and explained them fully. The 
first read was for the appointment by the Governor of the 
game warden, and a system for this warden's recompense 
and of the recompense of the deputy wardens in various 
sections of the State. This law contemplates that the 
only expense to the State for the protection of its game 
and fish and for the enforcement of the game laws will 
be the salary of $1,000 to the game warden, the compen- 
sation to the other wardens being gotten from their share 
as informers of the fines, as already provided for 
violations of the game laws. If this bill becomes a law, 
the Governor will make the appointment immediately, 
the term of the warden's office to be until April, 1898, 
when appointments of the warden are to take place every 
subsequent two years. The warden's province in game 
will be deer, wild turkeys, pinnated grouse, ruffed grouse, 
Mongolian and English pheasants, wild geese and all 
species of wildfowl. It shall be the duty of this warden 
to prosecute any person or corporation having in posses- 
sion any game or fish contrary to law. This will operate 
to prevent the restaurants and dealers from handling 
game out of season, and it is calculated to stop the abuses 
of the pot-hunters by shutting off the market. The laws 
already provide for the payment out of the finps for in- 
formation of violations of the game laws. When the 
game warden wants deputy wardens, he is to arrange 
with them for payment out of their share of the fines, 
and then to ask the Governor for their appointment. 
These deputy game jwardens will be fully commissioned 
to make arrests, and they will wear badges like police- 
men. 
Col. McCarthy thought that the members of the Associ- 
ation should be appointed to these positions, but it was 
pointed out that the Governor would give such powers to 
so many people. Mr. Wm. H. Armstrong thought that it 
would be a multiplication of offices to make a game war- 
den, and that the ends could be accomplished by the Asso- 
ciation. Ex-Mayor Latrobe thought that the game and 
fish interests of Maryland were surely worth $1,000 a 
year. He and Judge Wright thought people had not 
reached that state of moral rectitude when the mere pas- 
sage of a law meant its enforcement, and Mr. Penniman 
pointed out that the'people were not crying against useful 
offices, but mere sinecures. The motion to present the 
bill was unanimously passed. 
The matter of the closed season brought out some dis- 
cussion. Mr. Miller, of Montgomery, thought rabbits 
were already plentiful in his neighborhood, and that they 
did much damage to young trees. Others thought that 
men armed with dog and gun for rabbits would very 
likely blaze away at any birds that came their way. Dr. 
MassamOre said he believed more in feeding the birds 
during severe weather than in closing the season. The 
motion for a closed year was unanimously carried, 
As an addenda to the game warden bill, one will be 
offered empowering the various game protection clubs of 
the State to employ game detectives in the same manner 
as corporations employ policemen. By this method the 
clubs will ask the Governor for the commission of the 
man or men, and then pay them. 
The matter of the destruction of game fish in the tribu- 
taries of the Potomac, of good fish in the Chesapeake, and 
ducks on the Susquehanna, was discussed in general by 
nearly all present. It was decided to appoint a commit- 
tee to frame laws for these matters, which laws were to 
represent the sense of the Association. 
Accordingly the following committees were appointed : 
On ducking and fishing on the Chesapeake and its tribu- 
taries, ex-Mayor Latrobe, M. H. Ould, Joseph Rosen f eld, 
J. Olney Norris, H. C. Coburn, R. H. Gilbert, Walter T. 
Jackson This committee will meet to-day in Gen. La- 
trobe's office. On game fishes in the tributaries of the 
Potomac and the pollution of the streams of the State, 
Wm. H. Armstrong, H H. Miller, Dr. W. Harlan, F. F. 
McComas and A. C. Strife. 
Officers elected were: President, Judge D. Giraud 
Wright; Yice-President, Hon. Charles E, Coffin; Secre- 
tary-Treasurer, Dr. George W. Massamore; Counsel, W». 
H. DeCourcy Wright; Executive Committee, George 
Dobbin Penniman, James Scott, John Henry Keene, Jr., 
L. M. Levering. E. C. Eichelberger, William H. Fisher, 
Col. William H. Love, M. A. Ould, M, Gillet Gill, Col. 
W. F. Mason McCarty, H. A. Penrose, Dr. George W. 
Massamore. F. C. Kirkwood, F. C. Latrobe, A. T. Dressel, 
Robert Gilbert.— Baltimore American, 
ON BACK CREEK. 
I took the night train leaving the Grand Central 
D pot. New York, at 7:30 P. M. and reached Alexandria 
Bay the next morning, proceeding by rowboat to St. 
John's Island, my father's summer home, where I meant 
to fit out as our old Rideau party, whose voyages of dis- 
covery you have more than once chronicled, had been 
wont to do. None of them could go with me this time, 
so I went alone, with William Patterson for guide. 
Bill and I took a wagon and drove out into the wilder- 
ness south and east of Alexandria Bay about fifteen miles 
with the intention of ascending gradually some of the 
many streams until we got well into the Adirondack 
Mountains. We pitched our camp on Back Creek, near 
where it joins Murder Creek, and spent our days hunting 
for ducks, porcupines and partridges, and our nights 
dreaming of them. We found game very shy, but all 
other creatures very bold. Frogs clioibed up the sides of 
our tent in thousands every night and sat on the ridge 
pole singing "We won't go home until morning;" snakes 
intruded on us in the most unseenly manner, and as 
to the foxes, they almost stole our shoes off our feet. 
Three days after we were settled in camp we found a 
perfect beauty of a little raccoon fast in a trap we had 
set for an impertinent fox, and on the same morning shot j 
a porcupine, the first I had ever seen. When I went to . 
pick him up he filled my skin as full as his own with his 
tooth -pick quills. We lugged him home to camp and 
then went out after partridges, hoping to stumble over 
some in the thick brush on the hillsides. We didn't, but. 
we stumbled over a 20ft. bluff instead. Bill received all 
the damages, filling his left breast and shoulder with ugly 
little cuts and bruises. Consequently I sent him back to 
civilization to carry home the porcupine and raccoon, to 
be stuffed and mounted and himself patched up. I re-i 
mained in camp alone for ten days. It was a cheerful 
experience and calculated exactly to drive away the 
blues. 
Back Creek is the outlet of Butterfield Lake, near Red-, 
wood, N. Y., and runs nearly twenty miles parallel or 
nearly so to the St, Lawrence into Black Lake, which is; 
twenty miles long, and whose outlet empties into thei 
Asswegatchie River, and that in turn into the St. Law- 
rence below, at or near Ogdensburgh. Now you can find 
the spot. ... ■ ... . 
The creek itself is not over 50ft. wide in all its twenty 
miles of length, and is bordered on each side by a bottom- 
less swamp which is utterly impassable. At times rocky 
hills approach the water, seldom getting nearer to it than 
a couple of hundred yards, with the swamp intervening. 
Trees grow along the banks in great profusion, and in 
many places arch completely across it. An artist would 
find it beautiful. The animals, birds and fishes are numer- 
ous, but very wary, although if you are not armed they 
are bold enough to sit in your lap. Frogs sit in rows on 
every log, of which there are millions, and knocking off 
their heads with a small rifle is a simple way of earning a 
savory dinner. There are, besides, cranes and herons and 
ducks, raccoons, foxes, a few wildcats, porcupines and 
muskrats. , 
The day after Patterson left I was walking unconcern- 
edly in the woods when an old tree about 120ft. long fell 
across my path. I took the hint and went back to the 
tent. Another day I wished to get ashore, and stepped 
out of my punt into the mud, going up to my armpits and 
losing my revolver, hunting knife and temper at the same 
time. Our camp site being chosen with characteristic 
skill, we were half a mile from the nearest spring of 
drinkable water, and one evening when I upset the pail 
by accident I went forth in the dusk and filled it. Corn- 
ing home, I attracted the friendly but entirely undesired 
interest of a large, gaunt animal, who escorted me tc 
camp, evidently fearing that I should get lost. As I had 
no gun with me at the time, and being naturally bashful 
with strangers, I did some rather quick traveling through 
the dark woods, spilling on the way every drop of water 
in the pail. But I had lost my appetite for water. That 
was why I did not go back for more. I was not fright- 
ened. No indeed. . 
The next night all the ram m the region of Jefferson! 
county fell on the two hills on each side of my tent, slid! 
down their sides, and uniting just above my canvas homtl 
flowed through it. Being very clean already, I felt thai 
it was unnecessary. In addition a thunderstorm raged! 
and the lightning was incessant, enabling me to see th*| 
wreck that the deluge was making, while my anathemas! 
were accompanied by the creakings of a dead giant pinel 
tree which from its position could only fall one way— 
across my tent — if it fell at all. . 
The last night I stayed in that villainous spot I foun< 
three men, one of them with an exceptionally evil face., 
spying on me through the bushes. They were m a canoe 
in the creek, and their only response to my repeated hailf 
was to drop their paddles into the water and go back tbe 
