Jan. 4, 186 6, j 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
11 
THE MAINE GAME SUPPLY. 
Boston, Dec. 27.— Now that the shooting season of 1895 
has closed, and the experiences of many hundreds of 
sportsmen in the Maine woods have become a matter of 
history, the time would seem to be ripe to speak of the 
existing game laws of that State and the matter of their 
enforcement. As everybody knows, the slaughter of big 
game during the past three months has been simply with- 
out precedent. Wo section of the State, however remote, 
but has witnessed the coming of the ambitious gunner, 
and few have left for home without some substantial 
trophies of the trip. Without doubt much the largest 
number of sportsmen from any one place who annually 
visit Maine are from Boston, and naturally it is in this 
city that the greatest interest in the continuance of 
proper regulations for the protection of game is found. 
In talking with men who have tramped, camped and 
shot through the forests of Maine for years, I find that 
many coincide in the opinion that a decided change 
must soon be made, principally in the enforcement of 
the laws, if the present well Stocked condition of the 
forests is to continue, 
The shooting of game "for meat only" by fishing par- 
ties in the summer is a practice very generally carried on 
throughout the whole State, and practically means an 
open season from May to January. This fact is conceded 
by many, and it is useless for the authorities to ignore it. 
In the great Aroostook country, at places like Patten, 
Ashland and Norcross, the number of wardens should be 
substantially increased. At these places they can be 
easily reached if wanted, and again are on the direct 
line of entrance into the great game region. 
If the law allowing one individual to kill one moose, 
one caribou and two deer was applied to guides as well as 
to men being guided, probably the amount of game killed 
would be reduced nearly one-half It is a well-known 
fact that a large percentage of the heads brought out of 
the woods by triumphant sportsmen are from animals 
shot by their guides. Thus in guiding several parties dur- 
ing the season these men exceed many times over in the 
animals killed the number allotted to them by law. This 
law should apply to the guide as well aB his employer, and 
in fact, if an outsider went into the woods and shot two 
moose, one for himself and one for his friend, the guides 
would be the first to inform him that he had broken the 
law, at the same time reserving to themselves the right of 
doing the same thing without risk of penalty. Of course 
the sportsmen are largely responsible for this state of 
affairs, but it has grown to such proportions that some 
effort should be made by the Commissioners to stop it. 
Again, the present practice of many gunners of cutting 
off the heads of big game and leaving the meat should be 
discouraged. A friend who lately returned from the 
woods tells me that the man who brought out his game 
told him that since October he had brought out eleven or 
twelve moose heads for sportsmen, the bodies of all but 
three having been left to rot where tbey fell. 
It would be well also to devise some means for stopping 
the constant raids of French-Canadians over the line. 
These people kill many moose for their hides, and get 
back over the line into Canada without any fear of detec- 
tion. An extra force of wardens would seem to be the 
only way to stop this kind of business. 
I do not wish to appear too pessimistic regarding the 
future of the moose in Maine, but the animal has been 
chased to extermination elsewhere, and such seems to be 
the fate in store for him there unless a decided stand is 
taken to correct some of the abuses now directed agaiDst 
him. The published list of big game killed in the Aroos- 
took region makes interesting reading and may prove 
beneficial to the railroad companies, guides and others 
interested in bringing a large number of people into the 
country, but it seems to me a mistaken idea, for no hunt- 
ing region can stand the ever-increafsing crowd of gun- 
ners that are influenced by these reports, and when the 
game is quite exterminated, as at the present rate it 
promises to be in a few very short years, sportsmen will 
seek new fields, and the money which now rolls into this 
splendid section of Maine will almost cease. Hackle. 
Before these lines are published one of the greatest 
big game seasons the State of Maine has ever known 
will have been closed legally, Dec. 31 being the last day 
for the hunters. Through October and November there 
was more than the average of good hunting weather, 
with several good tracking snows, and the record of big 
game taken was remarkable, as has already been told. 
But December has proved to be a very poor month for tbe 
hunters. Indeed, there is to-day an absence of snow in 
many sections of Maine, and where there is no snow it is 
covered with a noisy crust. Such has been the case for a 
number of days, and the big game taken in December is 
likely to make a very small showing. I have lately heard 
from a number of interested parties — good guides and 
others — and they express satisfaction that the season is 
closing with no more slaughter. One guide writes me 
that he is really glad that the season is about over, and that 
in his section — Andover, Me. — there are a great many 
deer to "winter over." He does not believe that the stock 
is greatly harmed. Another guide and woodsman, from 
the line of the Aroostook Railroad, thinks that the deer 
left to winter will far exceed those of a year ago. Let us 
hope that such a report is universal. It is certain that 
December, often a very hard one for the deer, moose and 
caribou, has passed, and the supply is in far better shape 
than it could have been had December been a favorable 
month for the hunters. A prominent Boston lover of the 
gun said yesterday: "December has passed, and it has 
gone just right. The big game is still alive. Now let 
every body look out that the lumbermen and crust hunters 
do not destroy the excellent prospects for another season." 
In talking with a company of several sportsmen the 
other day, the suggestion was made that moose hunting 
methods have changed within a year. The practice in 
northern Maine now is for the guides to locate the moose 
when there is snow for tracking. The hunter is then 
notified, and with provisions for several days, carried by 
the guide, the hunt is begun. No moo3e in the woods 
can escape. The trail is followed as long as the day lasts, 
and guide and hunter camp where night overtakes them. 
The moose soon becomes footsore and must allow the 
hunters to approach. It is suggested that a number of 
moose have been obtained in tnls way this fall, and that 
though the record of moose slain in Maine ia a long one, 
the stock has probably suffered badly. Other opinions on 
this subject would be of great interest;. 
Mr. Charles L. Bly speaks in the most delightful terms 
of his trip to Maine this fall for hunting. He was accom- 
panied by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Williams. The 
ladies did the cooking, and Edgar was free to guide. 
That he did it well may be inferred when it is said that 
the hunters got three deer, two bucks and a doe. Ven- 
ison was in order much of the time, when not varied by 
the abundance of partridges they slew. Special. 
Bangor, Me.— Editor Forest and Stream: Your cor- 
respondent Hackle is correct in his statement in your is- 
sue of Dec. 21, that the newspaper reports of the laws 
being properly enforced in Maine are far from true. 
I believe that there have been fewer wardens in our woods 
this year than for years past. I have personally traveled 
over a very large portion of country in northern and east- 
ern Maine and neither saw a warden nor could hear of 
one being seen or heard of for the whole summer and 
fall. I did not see so many signs of summer killing of 
deer as usual, although I in one place found where three 
had been killed on one stream in the space of about six 
miles. Several moose had been killed in summer, and any 
decently smart warden could have found out who did it, 
even at as late a date as I was there. There was not so 
much hunting with dogs as in years past, but I heard 
dogs driving deer several times and saw one large party 
of men from Massachusetts whose guides told me killed 
four deer with dogs, and told me particularly about the 
dogs being carried in after the party were on the ground. 
Manly Hardy. 
ADIRONDACK DEER. 
Troy, N. Y., Dec. 27. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
send you herewith detailed statement received by Forest, 
Fisheries and Game Commission relative to number of 
deer killed during the season in the Adirondacks: 
"The reports received by the State Fisheries, Game and 
Forest Commission demonstrate that the fears of those 
who wish further protection are well grounded. These 
reports have been received from all but twelve counties 
in the Adirondack region, and these show, from conserva- 
tive figures, that 5,083 deer were killed during the last 
open season. 
"This number is under rather than over the exact 
figure. Of the total animals slain 2,699 were does. Thus 
it will be seen that the does shot outnumbered the bucks 
by 315. In Hamilton county the greatest slaughter took 
place, the animals killed numbering 1,406, of which 724 
were does. In but two counties, Essex and Franklin, did 
the number of bucks killed exceed the number of does. 
The reports give these totals: 
Whole 
Counties. Number. Bucks. Does. 
Clinton «5 42 43 
Essex 468 250 218 
Franklin... 934 480 454 
Fulton 64 28 36 
Hamilton , 1,406 682 724 
Herkimer 508 225 2"3 
Lewis 423 185 238 
St. Lawrence 813 345 468 
Saratoga , , 14 6 8 
Oneida 40 12 28 
Warren 282 107 175 
Washington , , , 46 22 24 
Totals 5,083 2,384 2,699 
The members of the Commission seem to be pretty well 
worked up in the matter, and I believe if an effort were 
made by all friends of game preservation the following 
results might be attained, viz : Clanging begiuaing of 
open season for deer from Aug. 16 to Sspt. 10; cutting 
short by one-half hounding season; prohibit killing of does 
for a period of five years; wipe out section 249; and fix 
opening of woodcock and grouse season at Sept. 1 or later 
if possible. Inasmuch as grouse may be killed up to 
Dec. 31, I would favor extending open season for hare3 
to that date in all counties where a longer season is not 
already provided for. M. Schenck. 
Brooklyn, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: In your 
issue of Dec. 7 two of your correspondents refer to my 
communication regarding deer hounding. Musset says, 
"In nine cases out of ten the deer is killed." Undoubt- 
' edly his experience warrants his opinion. But the expe- 
rience of many others leads them to an entirely different 
conclusion I have interviewed several veteran Adiron- 
dack sportsmen, and they say that, if anything, I did not 
place the proportion of escaping deer high enough when 
I expressed the opinion that at least half of all the deer 
run by dogs escape. 
Mr. R. S. Spears asks for particulars regarding the hunt 
I named, when a dozen men and as many dogs failed one 
day to secure a single deer. As he appears to ask- the 
question good-naturedly, I cheerfully gratify him. It was 
just after the opening of the season and several indepand- 
ent parties were organized for a hunt on TJtowana Li,ke. 
There was no plan for cooperation, but "catch as catch 
can" was the order of the day. Guides went into the 
woods to start dogs wherever each man chose and at dif- 
ferent hours, and several times when it seemed a deer was 
coming to the lake he appeared to be diverted by the bark 
of a dog between him and the water. Most of the dogs 
were hounds, but there was one bird dog, and both sexes 
were represented. The combination proved most unfor- 
tunate, and it was generally agreed there were too many 
dogs. 
Mr. Spears's last query is answered by the fact that, as 
a rule, people in any pursuit do not advertise a failure. 
Sportsmen are no exception. They prefer to speak of 
success. J. C. Allen. 
Number Four, N. Y.— Editor Forest and Stream: I 
regret to learn that the State has bought so much land of 
Dr. Webb. It will be the signal for butchering the 
deer next fall if hounding is allowed by law. Dr. Webb 
gave permits freely on this territory, but no dogs were 
allowed to be taken on the grounds. The result is that 
deer have become very plentiful; so much so that almost 
any greenhorn could get his two deer by fair still-hunting. 
It ia to the credit of Dr. Webb that we have any deer 
about here. They were all cleaned out by hounding in the 
fall, but during the year some would wander in from the 
immense tract of Dr. Webb, on which he allowed no 
hounding and kept a large number of protectors, so was 
able to enforce this rule, and deer became very plenty. 
I long ago became convinced that "if any deer were 
preserved it would ha?e to be done by private 
enterprise, Last summer J rented about 6,000 
acres in Townships Nos. 3 and 4, John Browns 
tract. I also prevailed on the Adirondack Timber 
and Mineral Co. to give me control of the rest of 
Town 4. So now I have control of about 30,000 acres of 
land. I complied with all the requirements of the game 
law relating to private parks. By employing these game 
protectors to patrol the territory during the hounding 
season I was able to prevent hounding within the park, 
and thereby saved at least 400 deer that would surely have 
been killed if it had been open to the public. Some days 
as many as four or five deer would pass through the lake 
here, driven by dogs from lands adjoining the park. But 
instead of being attacked and murdered as heretofore 
they were allowed to pass on unharmed. I inclose rules 
and regulations which were carried out to the letter. It 
has cost me about $400 including game keepers. But I 
never paid out money that I got so much satisfaction out 
of as in this case. Chas. Fenton. 
The following rules and regulations have been adopted for the gov- 
ernment of the No. 4 Park and the private parte belonging to the 
Adirondack Timber and Mineral Company, of which they have made 
me manager with full powers of attorney- 
Believing that the greatest increase of deer will come from their 
being driven into the park during the houndine season from adjoining 
lands, no person having the right or permit to shoot on the park will 
be allowed to watch on the water or shores of any pond, lake or 
stream, with the intention of shooting deer driven to the water, or 
upon any runway, or anywhere within the limits of tbe park, that ia 
being driven by dogs. All persons found upon the park during the 
hounding season with the implements of hunting will be considered 
trespassers. (See game laws relating to private parks..) This does not 
apply to persons passing through the park to hunt on other grounds. 
Neither to persons in the actual employ of T. B. Basselin, as manager 
of the Beaver River Lumber Company, in passing to and from the 
camp occupied by their employees. 
No camp shall be occupied for the sole purpose of bunting. No 
dogs shall be employed to chase or in any way aid in the hunting of 
deer. This rule is imperious, as it is enjoined upon me by the owners 
of the park, and if the foreman or managers of the lumber camps 
that may be within the limits of the park will kindly assist me in the 
enforcement of this rule, it will be greatly appreciated. Persons hav- 
ing occasion to pass through the park with dogs will be required to 
keep them securely chained. Gamekeepers are instructed co do no 
injury to dogs that may run on to the park from adjoining grounds, 
but when practical catch and bring them to me, where they will be 
cared for and returned to the owner on proof of property, unless the 
gamekeeper is fully satisfied that the dog was purposely put upon the 
grounds, or the owner enters upon the premises with the intention of 
shooting deer. Charles Fenton, Lessee and Manager. 
Dateu, No. 4, Sept. 4, 1895. 
ABOUT BIG BAGS. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I carefully scanned the pages of Forest and Stream of 
Dec. 28 for some voice of protest against the slaughter re- 
counted in the previous issue, that of the 21st ult. I 
refer to the 264 ducks killed in one day by a Long Island 
market hunter. 
Of course this matter is taken out of the realm of 
sportsmanship, since confessedly it is the act of a market 
hunter, and as such it was a matter of business. No one 
will have the hardihood to maintain that business ia 
sport, nor would any one have the hardihood to maintain 
that such slaughter was sport, even if it were done by one 
professing sportsmanship. 
I maintain that, even as a sport, killing must not be 
done to excess. There are excesses in everything, and 
the excess is what distinguishes the wholesome and the 
right from the harmful and the bad. 
But considered as the act of a market shooter, was not 
this killing all wrong? Assuming that a market hunter 
has a right to make a living — and that every one will 
concede — is not the world open for him to make a living, 
as it is for every one else, without killing off the game 
which belongs to the people? If he kills 264 ducks in a 
day, is not that number more than is necessary for his 
livelihood in one day? Bacause a man is a market hunter, 
is there to be no restriction on the number of birds he 
may kill? Has he a right to kill so many in winter that 
he can lie idle all summer? Has a market shooter an in- 
herent right to kill all that he pleases because he is a 
market shooter? 
The ducks of the people of America are being gradually 
exterminated by the market shooters, and must the nation 
bow to the behests of the men who repudiate sportsman- 
ship and who stand boldly forth as butchers? The sports- 
man acknowledges moral limitations as well as legal ones 
in his pleasures, but his self-limitations simply work to his 
own disadvantage, for the market shooter step3 in and 
stop3 killing only when he can kill no more. 
This matter of killing 264 birds in one day should be a 
rallying cry for the true sportsmen of America to organ- 
izd and urge the passage of a law limiting the number 
of ducks that any one person can kill in one day. It is 
better thus to protect the interests of all than to submit to 
the impositions of the few. 
If all the market shooters of the country were to kill 
264 ducks in one day, and every day during the season, 
the number thus killed would be incredibly large, and 
the only reason that they do not kill so many is because 
they cannot always do so, Dick: op Connecticut. 
BOSTON SPORTSMEN. 
David N. Pratt and C. W. Gammons, of Cohasset, 
Mass., have been having some good sport with the rabbits 
in the Halifax Swamp, which is located in that town. 
They have found the little jumpers quite abundant, and 
better still, they are of the long-eared variety, often 
called hares. Six very large specimens were the result of 
a day's hunt by the two gentlemen recently. Not a few 
foxes have been seen in the same locality within a few 
weeks past. For some years reynard has been almost 
extinct in that part of Plymouth, and it is gratifying to 
know he is returning to his old haunts. Mr. Charles Cur- 
tis started a fine fellow out of the woods at the rear of 
Scituate Hill, and with two fine hounds gave him a long 
chase, but finally lost him. Mr. Curtis has been very 
successful in his goose and black duck shooting at Lily 
Pond. He has a number of well-trained live decoys and 
owns the stands at the ponds. The ice has interfered 
with the shooting for the last ten days, and in fact the 
season is now practically closed. 
F. L Creesy, one of Boston's lawyers, is spending the 
winter near Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. He is 
seeking restored health and has certainly gone to a good 
couatiy to find it. He is occupying a part of his time in 
pickerel fishing through the ice, but I have not heard 
with what success. Hackle. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday, 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach uf at 
latest, by Monday, and as mucli, eqrlier as practic^lS) 
