150 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Feb. 23, 1895. 
\mi\e $Hg m\d §un. 
THE ADIRONDACK DEER. 
In the Utica Herald, Mr. W, E. Wolcott publishes annually 
an article on the deer of the North Woods. His paper for this 
year is full of facts, and we extract the following: 
Amoug the most important matters in connection with the 
game laws which will probably be passed upon this winter are 
the changes affecting the deer shooting season. The number of 
visitors to the Adirondack region last year was greater than 
evei before, a correspondingly large increase was shown in the 
number of hunters, and the slaughter of deer attained such 
proportions as to give rise to fears "that the supply might at no 
far distant day become exhausted. Hundreds of sportsmen from 
Centra] and Northern New York, as well as many from other 
parts of the State, are in the habit of visiting the Adirondacks 
annually to enjoy a few days deer shooting, and they very 
naturally take great interest in the subject of game protection. 
Of course, ail have their ideas as to what should be done to pro- 
tect the deer, and the views expressed often differ widely, but 
there seems to be a great unanimity of opinion that some 
further restrictive measures regarding hunting should be 
adopted forthwith. Some believe that the existing laws are 
good enough if properly enforced. Some advocate prohibiting 
floating for deer, or night shooting with the aid of jacks, and a 
number of clubs in the Adirondacks have already taken this 
step. Others urge that the hounding season should be curtailed, 
and. the time for still-hunting extended into November. There 
is quite a strong sentiment in favor of making it illegal to kill 
does at any time, and there are those who believe that no deer 
should be killed in the water. Many believe that both floating 
and hounding should be abolished for a term of years. Of 
course it is next to impossible to frame a law regulating the 
killing of deer which will please everyone, but it is earnestly 
hoped that some action will be taken by the present Legislature 
to afford more adequate protection. 
The hotel men, guides and other residents are also deeply in- 
terested in the subject, and perhaps give it more attention than 
those who only spend a few days or a few weeks each year in 
the woods. With a view of getting something of an idea of 
how many deer were killed iu the Adirondacks from Aug. 15 to 
Nov. 1, last year, by the different methods of hunting, and of 
obtaining views as to whether the animals were diminishing 
or increasing in numbers, the Herald recently sent out letters 
of inquiry to well-known residents of all the different counties 
in the forest preserve. The persons addressed were also asked 
if there were any changes that guides would like made iu the 
game laws for the protection of deer. Abstracts from some of 
the replies received will be of general interest. 
Orria Harris, Pyramid Lake House, Essex County — I would 
like to have the hunting season commence Sep. 1 and close Nov. 
1, all modes of hunting of deer to commence together and end 
together. 
Theodore C. Kemonda, Morehouse ville, Hamilton.' County — 
The guides and residents would favor a Jaw prohibiting the 
hounding of deer. The open season to extend from Oct. 1 to 
Dee. 1, which would allow nothing but still-hunting, and do 
away with both hounding and jacking. 
H. S. Downs, Chestertown, Warren County — The guides in 
this vicinity would be glad to see a law passed doing away with 
hounding entirely. They are beginning to regard the hound- 
ing of deer as very unsportsmanlike sport. 
Monroe H. Bullock, Beaver River Club. Lewis County — We 
believe in giving every one of the sportsmen their sport of kill- 
ing deer their way. The game law is satisfactory with us iu 
this section, and if they will live up to the game law as they do 
here, there will be plenty of deer. 
W. H. Roblee, North River, Warren County — The guides 
would, like to have dogging until Nov. 1 ; still-huuting until 
Nov. 15, and jacking prohibited entirely. 
Warren Humes, Harris Ville, Lewis County— Experienced 
woodsmen are all in favor of doing away with hounding. If 
dogs are allowed to run as they have for two years past, in two 
or _ three years the deer would be nearly extinct in the Adi- 
rondacks. 
Samuel Dunakin, Fourth Lake, Pulton Chain— There are 
changes in the game laws to be desired, but I am afraid not 
attainable, as the knocking out of jack hunting is as strongly 
opposed by outsiders as it is desired by people here. The only 
remedy I can see for the cause is to keep the season closed at 
least until Sep. 1, and even that only half does it. 
O. L. Howland, Rurleston, Hamilton County — I would like to 
do away with hounding and let the open season run until 
December 1. Hounding must be stopped or the deer will be 
exterminated in less than five years. 
Henry Studor, White Lake— The guides of course do not 
want any changes in the game law, but this does not imply 
the protection of deer. 
Thomas Salmon, Conklingville, Saratoga County — I am in 
favor of stopping dogging entirely, extending the time until 
December 1 for still-hunting, and having the hunting season 
opened September 15, instead of August 15. They have a new 
name for floating and call it still-huuting. It is carried on . 
quite extensively in this county wherever deer come to water. 
If anything is done in this direction, there must be a stop to 
killing after dark. 
Morton S. Parmalee, Malone, Franklin County — I am in the 
woods a good deal winters and summers. The deer in my im- 
mediate beat are decreasing, I think from hounding so early in 
the season, but good men like Major Pond, chief protector, 
think on the whole they are increasing. As I understand the 
sentiment of the guides it is to abolish jacic hunting and the ' 
killing of does, My own views are that unless some restrictive 
measures are taken the deer will in a few years be practically 
exterminated, except in the private jmrks. 
Charles Fenton, Number Pour, Lewis County — The guides 
and all parties interested in the preservation of Adirondack 
deer! are in favor of stopping both hounding and jacking. I 
think this locality the worst of any in the Adirondacks for the 
slaughter of deer by hounding, as so much of the woods is. now 
protected by private individuals and clubs, leaving a little sec- 
tion here open to the public. Hundreds of hunters and dogs 
occupy every lake, pond and stream, and the woods are full of 
hunters beside. I think it safe to say that there were during 
the whole hounding season fully 800 men and as many dogs, 
within a radius of three miles. Deer are nearly exterminated 
here and would be entirely so were it not for the adjacent 
private parks, where deer are not slaughtered so. In 1893 fully 
300 were killed here, and 200 is a low estimate for the past 
season. Almost the whole of these deer were killed by resi- 
dents along the borders of the wilderness for their meat and 
skins and for profit. 
Eugene Beach, Gloversville, Fulton County — There are 
veiy few deer in Pulton county, and but little hunting if any 
of deer is done. I am in the habit of making a trip every 
spring into Hamilton county in the fishing season. I am confi- 
dent that last spring there were many less deer in the part of 
the woods which I have visited for several years, than in 
former years. This decrease is certainly due to the hounding 
of deer in the fall. Many were killed there in the fall of 1893 
and many more last fall. I am informed that logging camps in 
the woods are, some of them, kept supplied with venison in and 
out of season by men wjho are hired to hunt for that purpose. 
It is believed that game constables are in some cases aware of 
the fact and that they could bring the i ffenders t" account. If 
the present law were Strictly enforced, ,much improvement 
would result. I am inclined to believe the privilege of hound- 
ing should be much abridged if not entirely withdrawn. 
A. R. Puller, Meacham Lake Franklin County— Thirty-six 
deer were killed here. The guests at Meacham generally 
respect my request that no does be killed, but by night hunting- 
no one can tell what he is shooting at, and more does than 
buc-Ks are shot. Iu Meacham proper only two does were killed. 
We do no still-hunting. I do not think the public generally 
understand the term still-hunting. I am sure many think it is 
jacking, but still-huuting is done on wet leaves or snow, when 
a track is left for the hunter to follow. This is considered the 
only sportsmanlike way of killing deer, but if the only way very 
few but experienced hunters would ever kill a deer. It is not 
only hard work, but very few have the skill to follow a deer 
after starting, as they make many crooks and turns in a day's 
journey. During the season of 1894, seven miles from here, on 
what is called good hunting ground, eleven deer were killed by 
night hunting and hounding. Oct. 14 there came about three 
inches of snow, and eight of the guides, who had gotten through 
their work for the season at Meacham, went out on the 15th 
and killed twelve deer. That w_is the only good still-hunting 
day of the season. I have talked with several guides who agree 
with me that no does should be killed Night hunting should 
be stopped. The penalty for violating the law should be in- 
creased, hunting should begin September 1 instead of August 
15. and the whole month of October should be given for hound- 
ing. Give the still-hunters the first ten days of November, and 
no time after Nov. 10 to bring iu the deer should be allowed. 
VV henever such time is given to bring in the venison, it is 
simply so many more days to kill. Also fix our laws in 
regard to dogs, so that every dog shall have an owner and if 
found without the owner's name, to be killed by auy game pro- 
tector or constable. This may seem a little severe, but there 
should be some way to stop the running of deer out of season, 
and owners of hunting dogs should comply with reasonable laws 
if they are allowed to use dogs at any season for hunting deer 
or other game. 
Deer are reported to be decreasing at Rudeston, Hamilton 
county, White Lake, Oneida county, Hairisville, Lewis county, 
Fourth Lake, Pulton Chain, North Lake, Herkimer county, 
Number Pour, Lewis c.mnty, Morehouseville, Hamilton county, 
Franklin county. They are reported on the increase at North 
River and Chestertown, Warren county, slightly; Beaver River, 
Lewis county, Sacandaga Valley, Saratoga county, probably 
increasing in Fulton county, but there are very few. 
Estimates as to the number of deer killed in the various parts 
of the Adirondacks specified, from Aug, 15 to Nov. 1, 1894, by 
the different methods of hunting are as follows: 
Honnedaga Lake 
Floating. Hounding. Still-hunt'g. Total 
58 
5 
03 
la 
41 
>fr 
G2 
u 
30 
4 
45 
. 70 
100 
25 
200 
. 15 
13 
G 
34 
. 6 
200 
5 . 
211 
95 
15 
114 
% ^ 
50 
4' 
01 
45 
200 
13 
258 
, 23 
10 
36 
. 50 
100 
25 
m 
8 
8 
' 50 
300 
350 
180 
25 
25 
40 
220 
21 
35 
20 
75 
. 44 
90 
.it 
143 
540 
1355 
1?0 
2080 
Fourth Lake. Fulton chain. 
Stillwater, Beaver River 
Number Four , 
Harrisville 
Morehouseville 
Chesterton, Warren Co 
Pyramid Lake, Essex Co... 
Franklin Co 
Sacandaga Valley 
Cranberry Lake 
Long Lake 
Over 2,000 deer were killed in 1893 and about the same num- 
ber in 1892. Reports from the different comities indicate that 
more were killed last year in many localities than in either of 
the preceding years. The total of 2,080 given above of course 
does not cover all the deer killed last year, and it is probable 
that the aggregate was nearer 2,500. 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
IT WAS A TAME BUFFALO. 
Chicago, IU., Feb. 18. —Captain George S. Anderson, 
Superintendent of the National Park, who was in Chicago 
for one day t his week, says that he investigated the re- 
port of the sale of buffalo meat in Helena, Mont., and 
found that one buffalo of the Allord herd had been 
slaughtered to keep it from dying anyhow, and that the 
carcass was put on sale at Helena. 
MR. TRUDE ON GAME AND GAME LAWS. 
Mr. A. S. Trade is easily the ablest and best known 
criminal lawyer of Chicago. Of late he has almost emit 
practice, and taken up the sports of the forest and 
stream. A while ago, I mentioned some facts in regard 
to Mr. Trade's shooting experience in the West. Noth- 
ing can be said against Mr. Trade's position in the follow- 
ing interview, which the Tribune of Chicago had with 
him this week after his return from Washington. Evi- 
dently he is in line with the true spirit of sportsmanship 
to-day, whatever may have been his errors in the past, 
and the value of his word and effort in the interest of 
proper legislation is hard to overestimate. All interested 
in the preservation of the Yellowstone Park game will 
read with interest what he says in regard to the latest 
attempt at spoliation of the nation's property. With 
acknowledgment to the Tribune, the interview is given in 
full: 
A. S. Trude believes in the protection of game birds and fish. He 
came back from Washington yesterday, where he went, to help kill 
a bill which provides for the building of a narrow gauge railroad 
into the heart of the Shoshone River country just west of the Yel- 
lowstone National Park. The ostensible object of the road, Mr. 
Trude says, is to bring out coal, hut its real object is to give the pot- 
hunters, backed by Montana capital, an opportunity to get in there 
to slaughter the game for the Eastern markets, and to net, spear, 
or dvnamite the fish for the same ourpose. 
•"The Shoshone River is alive with mountain trout and salmon 
trout,' 1 ' said Mr. Trude. "Tnere are 130 men at the head of the 
Snake River who are now killing off the fish there, and, seeing that 
in a short time the supply will be cut off, they are looking for tresh 
waters for fish and fresh fields for game. These men and others 
like them have depleted the Yellowstone, the Gallatin, the Madi- 
son, and the Jefferson rivers, and are now just about finishing up 
the supply in the Snake River. When they dynamite a stream 
they kill all the fish within the area of several acres and kill the 
dpposited fish eggs as well. No supply can Withstand such 
draughts. The statement that coal is the object of the proposed 
railroad is nonsense. There is no coal there, I think, and if there 
is any it could not be worked profitably. They are after the fish 
and game, and if we don't do somethiug to stop their work there 
won't be anything left. I explained to a number of Congressemn 
the real objects of the bill to run a railroad over government 
land, and I think it will he killed. I saw Secretary Tburber. He 
is courtesy itself. I told him of the contemplated slaughter of 
game and fish by market hunters, and he intimated the President 
was too true a sportsman to sign a hill whose intent was to give 
market men a monopoly of the fish which belong to the people. 
"Bythe way the Government extended the limits of Yellowstone 
Park the other day, in taking in sixty additional square miles 
and Swallowing up "Trude Trail," and all this without consulting 
me. You see there was only one trail to the Shoshone River 
- country, and it was a had one. It was a spongy sort of trail, and 
mules would sink in it and drivers would swear on it. It was 
called S. B. Trail. I ptit some men at work, and cut out a decent 
trail which cost time and money. The men dubbed it Trude 
Trail. This has been taken in by the Government, ana now I 
can't walk over my own highway without permission. 
"The game is going fast. There are a lot of Englishmen who 
when at home will fine a man three times for killing a rabbit on 
their estates, but who wih go to the Northwest of the LTnited 
States and kill our magnificent elk just for the fun of seeing them 
fall. They don't touch cai-cass or horn; just shoot the animal and 
let it rot where it fails. These are the men who at home get after 
a man who kills a rabbit, first for killing the creature, then for 
trespass, and then for carrying a gun without a license. These 
men will send their dogs into Yellowstone Park to drive the ani- 
mals out where they can be shot without subjecting their owners 
to the danger of arrest. 
"It takes about nine days to get into the Shoshone country as 
things are now, and, of course, fish cannot bo transported and 
kept in good condition for the markets. 1 brought out two young 
deer from there not long ago and gave them to Lincoln Park. I 
kept them long enough to acclimate them. The park people would 
not feed them as I directed, but gave them slough hay and killed 
them. That sort of treatment discourages one from doing any- 
thing more in the gift line. 
"I went down to the Indian Territory just before I went to 
Washington. There and in Arkansas the market hunters are kill- 
ing off the game and shipping it to the cities. The most of the 
quail are trapped. The markets ought to be closed to Illinois 
game at all seasons and there should be but a limited season for 
the sale of game from other States. An open market in Chicago 
the year through would he an invitation for law violation in those 
States which have non-export laws." 
Mr. Trade was approached by a friend on the subject 
of the Blow bill, which it has been sought to foist upon 
the people of Illinois, this being the game dealers' bill 
alluded to in the last two weeks' issues of Forest and 
Stream. Mr. Trude was familiar with the bill, and he 
simply remarked with a wave of the hand: 
"Don't you be worried over that for one minute. That 
bill will never pass. I know what I am talking about. " 
Mr. Trade's word carries weight. No man in Chicago 
can publish utterances of more interest and value to the 
sportsmen of the city than the statement printed above. 
THE RIGHT TALK FROM DAKOTA. 
Apropos of the above in regard to the attempted steal 
of the rights of the sportsmen of the West is the follow- 
ing letter from M r. C. E. Robbins, the President of the 
North Dakota State Sportsmen's Association. It is the 
right sort of talk, and shows how ready a response the 
honest and fearless utterances of Forest and Stream on 
this question have found in the interested game country 
to the west of Chicago, It w^as well said editorially in 
Forest and Stream that Dakota was as much to be 
harmed as Illinois by the passage of the Blow bill in 
Illinois. Mr. Robbins' letter shows what the sportsmen 
of that State think about it. It reads as follows: 
"The game law situation in the State of Illinois, as de- 
scribed in the last number of the Forest and Stream, is a 
question of vital importance to all law-abiding people in 
the North-west. It is a surprise to many that a man 
with experience like Game Warden Blow, should advocate 
such measures as are contained in his letter to the Illinois 
State Sportsmen's Association. A person might believe 
from reading his letter that he considered it legitimate 
business for the game 'fences' of Chicago to buy and sell 
property stolen from other States. 
"Whenever game is shipped during the close season to 
Chicago or other city markets, it is in direct violation of 
law; and all persons connected with the business should 
be prosecuted to the same extent as other dealers in stolen 
property. Mr. Blow's idea seems to be that each State, 
should protect its own game regardless of the laAvs of 
other States. We are not so selfish; and the Dakotas 
and Minnesota have game law^s that in many respects are 
identical. It is the aim of legislators in these States to 
secure uniform game laws. Came in the Dakotas is dis- 
appearing very fast. If it were not for the ravages of 
market hunters some species would steadily increase, but 
the game markets of the large cities furnish an incentive 
for lawless men, who are well able to earn an honest liv- 
ing, to become thieves, and steal the game during the 
close season; for they know that in case of arrest that 
money will be furnished by interested parties to defend 
them and prevent conviction. 
"Game protection in North Dakota would receive a 
fatal blow should the bill presented to the Legislat are at 
Springfield in the interest of game destroyers, become a 
law. W e sincerely hope that the Illinois Legislature will 
consider the interests of other States as well as their own 
in this matter, for we believe it is better for a few game 
dealers to be permitted to do a less, but more honest 
business, than it is to rob the people of their own and 
other States of the pleasure of game shooting for the 
future. You are at liberty to use this communication in 
any way you see fit. C. E. Robbins, 
"Pre't N. D. State Sportsmen's Assoc'n." 
Mr. Robbins and his friends need have small further 
concern over the Blow bill. At this writing a conserva- 
tive judgment indicates that it is a dead proposition; as, I 
see other columns. 
THE POSSUM CLUB. j 
Mi - . William Werner, the well-known Chicago caterer, 
better known as "Bill Werner" or "Possum Bill" among 
sportsmen of Chicago, gave his annual possum dinner to 1 
the "boys" last Wednesday evening, at his beautiful new- 
place at 2112 Michigan avenue. If such a thing be pos- i 
sible, this was the best of all the good dinners he has yet | 
given. It does seem that the possums taste better every 
year, and that Bill Werner grows more genial and mel- 
low and tells a story better each year. The ones who 
have been privileged to meet at these little informal din- 
ners wrould be sorry to relinquish their yearly meeting. 
This Mr. Werner says they never shall, for while he lives 
he intends each winter to give this possum dinner, at 
that season when possum an' sweet potatoes are ripe. 
There were present last AVednesday evening Messrs. Ab- 
ner Price. W. P. Murray, George Andrews and tin' 
writer, of Chicago, and Frank Parmalee, of Omaha. All 
were guests of Mr. Werner, but the chief guest of the. 
other "guests was Captain A , of the United States 
Army. The latter came, inclined to be skeptical as to 
the excellence of possum, hut w-ent away convinced that 
he had never before known the capabilities of the bird. 
He declared that as served (Mr. Werner had two speci- 
mens baked at full length and brought on upon a vast, 
platter) the creature looked like Sioux dog, and tasted 
like peaches and cream. The little gathering was purely 
informal. There was conversation but no speeches, but 
it was finally made the sense of the meeting that possum^ 
he sho' am good to eat, likewise that Bill Werner sho' am 
the only man that can cook him. 
GONE TO TEXAS. 
Mr. H. G. Northrop, of the refrigerator transit depart- 
ment of the Union Pacific Railroad, and his friend, Mr. 
Henry W. Magill, of the Phoenix Insurance Company, 
are the last to inquire at the Forest and Stream office foi< 
information in regard to the happy hunting-grounds of 
Rockport, Texas. I told them that I could not conscien- 
tiously send anybody duck hunting in March (the date of 
their visit) , and that probably they would have little oi 
