106 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
and went back to his restaurant. L. Byer, a local mer- 
chant of Santa Margarita, who was acting as a ship- 
ping agent for San Francisco commission firms, was 
also fined $25 last week. The eight men who were ar- 
rested in the mountains of Tehama County, red-handed, 
and were charged with slaughtering deer out of season, 
were all acquitted by an intelligent jury of their peers 
after a two days' trial at Red Bluff, Shasta County. 
Game protection does not appear to be popular in the 
northern counties. Marin. 
The Adirondack Deer. 
From the forthcoming report of the New York Forest, Fish and 
Game Commission. 
In response to a continued and growing demand for 
information about the larger animals of the Adirondack 
region, the Commission has followed its usual course in 
collecting various facts and statistics relating to the fauna 
(jf the woods. Great care has been exercised to have the 
facts and figures given represent accurately the condi- 
tions as they exist, and it is believed that the camper, the 
sportsman, and even the resident of the Adirondack coun- 
ties will find something of interest and value in what fol- 
lows. The proof that the herds of deer are steadily in- 
creasing will of itself give much satisfaction, and the 
success that has attended the effort to restore moose to 
the woods will undoubtedly prove gratifying to the many 
citizens interested in the movement. The introduction 
cf elk is at best ati experiment, but it has thus far proved 
to be successful, and the people of the State are indebted 
to a public-spirited citizen for generous donations of 
these valuable animals. Many letters received by the 
Commission attest the pleasure which the vast army of 
visitors to the Adirondack region has experienced and 
is yet to experience from the introduction in this terri- 
tory of the animals mentioned. 
The Adirondack Deer. 
One of the very best evidences of the value of protec- 
tion is furnished by the marked increase in the number of 
deer secured by hunters in the Adirondack region an- 
nually. In spite of all predictions to the contrary, the 
herds of deer have steadily grown; and although the 
army of hunters is continually increasing, as_ shown by 
the heavy travel to the woods during the hunting season, 
the inroads made yearly have not appreciably diminished 
the number of these animals within the State's forest 
domain. In response to the continued demand of those 
interested in this subject, the Commission has collected, 
with the aid of the American and National Express Com- 
panies, a record of the shipments made during the hunt- 
ing season of 1902. These figures, and those of the two 
preceding years, are as follows: 
Carcasses. 
1900 1,020 
1901 1,062 
1902 1,354 
From the increase in the number of carcasses shipped 
it will be seen that, in round numbers, about thirty per 
cent, more deer were secured by hunters in the Adiron- 
dacks during the season of 1902 than during the previous 
year. By following the generally accepted rule, that four 
deer are killed in the woods for every one shipped out by 
rail,* the great increase in the returns secured by sports- 
men as a result of protecting these animals will readily 
be seen. 
The interesting statistics furnished by Supt. John L. 
Van Valkenburgh, of the American Express Company, 
and Supt. T. L. Smith, of the National Express Com- 
pany, who vouch for the accuracy of the figures given, 
are as follows : 
Season of J902 — Shipments of Deer from Points in the 
Adirondack Region. 
Saddles. Heads. 
89 95 
103 121 
113 193 
Railroad Station, 
Beaver River 
Big Moose.....,.,,,,. 
Brandreths ..1 
Childwold 
Clear Water 
Eagle Bay 
Floodwood 
Forestport 
Fulotn Chain 
Hinckley 
Horseslioe 
Lake Clear Junction.. 
Lake Placid 
Little Rapids 
Long Lake West 
Loon Lake .......... 
McKeever 
Minnehaha 
Ne-ha-sa-ne 
Nelson Lake 
Onchiota 
Otter Lake 
Paul Smiths 
Piercefield 
Pleasant Lake 
Poland 
Rainbow Lake 
Raquette Lake 
Saranac Lake 
Saranac Inn 
Tupper Lake Junction 
White Lake Corners.. 
Woods Lake 
Mohawk and Malone Railroad. 
Carcasses. 
117 
45 
4 
16 
20 
14 
13 
24 
58 
1 
2 
7 
1 
3 
44 
8 
17 
9 
2 
3 
6 
10 
11 
31 
9 
17 
2i 
6 
3 
64 
9 
24 
Saddles. 
2 
Heads. 
18 
7 
3 
2 
19 
Total 618 
New York and Ottawa Railroad. 
Brandon 
Derrick 
Dickinson Center 
Kildare 
Madawaska .,........>..>,.; 
Santa Clara 
Spring Cove 
Sherman • 
St. Regis Falls 
Tupper Lake 
46 
29 
2 
8 
6 
14 
18 
3 
Total. 
82 
Utica and Black River Railroad. 
Alder Creek 8 
Benson Mines ^ 
Boonville * 
Carthage g 
Castorland .f 
Glenfield |7 
Harrisville vO 
Jayville * 
* A large number of deer are taken out of the woods each season 
in wagons by farmers and sportsmen who live near the borders of 
the Great Forest of northern New York; and a large amount of 
venison is consumed in the hunting camps, lumber jobs, hotels, 
and by the "natives" or residents of the woo4b< 
74 
4 
8 
19 
Railroad Station, 
Lowville 
Lyons Falls 
Natural Bridge .. 
Newton Falls .... 
Oswegatchie . . . . , 
Port Leyden . . . . , 
Prospect , 
Carcases. 
6 
13 
6 
74 
18 
1 
40 
Saddles. 
2 
Heads. 
Total 277 18 
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad. 
Antwerp 2 
Canton 8 
De Kalb Junction 
Edwards 3 1 
Emeryville 
Limerick 
Potsdam i 
10 
1 
36 
Total 50 2 
Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad. 
Broadalbin 
Gloversville 
Johnstown . 
Northville . 
Total. 
2 
7 
8 
96 
113 
13 
13 
20 
20 
Little Falls and Dolgeville Railroad. 
Dolgeville 9 
New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. 
Fonda 4 2 
Little Falls 1 
Total. 
Malone .., 
Winthrop 
Rutland Railroad. 
Total. 
Ccrinth 
W arrensburgh 
Saranac Lake , 
Ticonderoga . . 
Port Henry ... 
Loon Lake ... 
Stcny Creek... 
Bloomingdale 
North Creek ., 
Riverside 
Hadley 
Caldwell ...... 
The Glen 
Westport 
Crown Point 
Total 
Recapitulation 
Mohawk and Malone Railroad 
New York and Ottawa Railroad 
Utica and Black River Railroad 
Rome, Watertown & Ogdensbui-g R. R.. 
Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville R. R. 
Little Falls and Dolgeville Railroad... 
N. Y. Central & Hudson River R.R.. 
Rutland Railroad 
Delaware and Hudson Railroad 
3 
21 
4 
1 
7 
22 
Railroad. 
2 
2 
'i 
1 
'a 
24 
'3 
6 
1 
4 
23 
1 
104 
28- 
'2 
27 
6 
1 
"2 
4 
4 
a 
1 
1 
193 
31 
618 
46 
74 
82 
1 
19 
277 
18 
10 
50 
2 
6 
113 
13 
20 
9 
5 
'2 
7 
22 
193 
si 
43 
1,354 
113 
193 
From the weight of the carcasses recorded in the ship- 
ping bills of the express companies, it will be readily seen 
that the Adirondack deer, when properly protected, \yill 
develop a size and weight fully equal to or surpassing 
that of the species in any other locality in North Amer- 
ica. The following are some of the shipments reported 
which seem worth noting: 
*Dressed 
Railroad Station. Consigned to. Weight. 
Big Moose— C. P. Floyd, Remsen, N. Y 203 
Eagle Bay — 1. Larsehn, New York citv 200 
Hinckley— J.' L. Roberts, New York city 225 
Lake Clear Jet.— J. Mulholland, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 206 
Benspn Miiies— C.Simmons; Ogdensburg, N. Y 200 
Benson Mines-H. Miller, Jr., Harrisville, N. Y... 202 
Boonville— W. A. Brown. Utica, N. Y 
Carthage— D. Mosher, Watertown, N. Y 
Castorland— Harry Waugh, Fulton, N. Y 
Glenfield— Geo. Bacon, Herkimer, N, Y 
Lowville— L. Freis, New York city 
Lowville— A. G. Lewis, Buffalo, N. Y 
Lyons Falls— H. L. Smallinger, Utica, N. Y 
Newton Falls— D. Gayne, Watertown, N. Y 
Prospect — Geo. Windheim, Utica, N. Y 
Johnstown— J. Stewart, Albany, N. Y 
Northville— J. Reeifer, New York city 
Northville— C. C. Weimer, Albany, N. Y 
Northville— H. M. Bowler, Amsterdam, N. Y 
Northville— R. Christian, Amsterdam, N. Y 
Northville— J. Osborne, Johnstown, N. Y 
-Ralph Graham, New York city 
225 
200 
209 
208 
200 
205 
200 
208 
211 
200 
235 
202 
210 
210 
215 
204 
200 
226 
250 
204 
220 
Live 
Weight. 
254 
250 
281 
257 
250 
252 
281 
250 
261 
260 
250 
256 
250 
260 
264 
250 
294 
252 
262 
262 
269 
255 
250 
282 
313 
255 
275 
273 
300 
Dolgeville , -tV - \r 
Winthrop— F. F. Stevens, Ogdensburg, N. Y.... 
Otter Lake— W. E. Champayn, Cornmg, N. Y... 
Tupper Lake— A. VV. Lasher, Canajoharie, N. Y. 
Port Henry— J. E. McGue, Rouse's Point, N. Y. 
Stony Creek— G. A. Lawton, Hadley, N. Y....... 
North Creek— Mrs. Chas. Smith, Glens Falls, N. Y. 219 
Riverside— F. Pallarand, Saratoga, N. Y ■ ,-- . 
By adding one-fourth to the dressed weight, the live weight of 
the animal may be determined with reasonable accuracy. 
Under the appropriation of $S,ooo made for the pur- 
pose of restoring moose to the Adirondacks, the Commis- 
sion will, by the time this report reaches the public, have 
procured and liberated in the forest a dozen of these ani- 
mals. It is expected that as many more will be secured 
in the near future. The restrictions on the shipment of 
moose from other States and from Canada have made 
it extremely difificult to procure these animals, and car- 
load lots are practically an impossibility. Stringent laws 
exist in Canada and elsewhere against the shipment of 
live moose at any season. Those which have been 
secured and placed in the Adirondacks have done well, 
and Protector J. Edward Ball, who has had charge of 
the work of liberating the animals, reports that they are 
now in excellent condition. The moose were set at lib- 
erty near Uncas Station and have yarded for the winter 
in two places — one just south of Raquette Lake and the 
other about three miles east of Big Moose Lake. The re- 
port of the protector says : "The moose are doing well, 
and there seems to be no reason why they should not in- 
crease in the Adirondacks. They have plenty of food, 
and will do well if let alone." He further says: "The 
residents of the Adirondacks are taking great interest in 
the work of restocking the woods with moose, and, with 
the railroad employes, render all possible assistance in 
handling the animals." One of the moose liberated last 
summer was shot by unknown campers in the vicinity of 
Eighth Lake, and the department is now investigating 
the matter. The work already done toward procuring 
moose, under the appropriation furnished, has greatly en- 
couraged all those interested in the effort to secure the 
return of this magnificent animal to the Adirondack 
region. 
In addition to the 22 elk placed in the Adirondack 
forest a year ago, which were the gift of Hon. William 
* As weighed and billed by the agent of the express company. 
C. Whitney, 40 others have been shipped by him from his 
private preserve at Lenox, Mass. This generous gift will 
fee tlloi-oughly appreciated ty all lovers of the Adiron- 
dack, forests, and entitles Mr. Whitney to the thanks of 
the people of the State. The elk were donated from Mr. 
Whitney's October Mountain estate, and were shipped to 
Long Lake West. Five other elk were given during the 
year by the Binghamton Park Commission to Mr. Wil- 
liam Dart, of Dart's Camp, near Big Moose Lake. They 
will be cared for diSring the winter by the Brown's Tract 
Guide Association and liberated in the spring. Mr. 
Harry V. Radford, who is an enthusiastic supporter of 
the plan to_ restock the Adirondacks with elk and moose,, 
recently paid a visit to the woods for the purpose of esti- 
mating the number of elk now there. His figures show 
that there are upwards of 80, which include those liber- 
ated and those born in the forest. Both the elk and the 
moose are greatly admired by visitors to the Adiron- 
dacks, of which there are thousands every summer, and 
it is believed that these animals will thrive and become an 
important feature of the northern wilderness. 
The same forces which united to secure the restock- 
ing of the woods with elk and moose are now interested 
in an effort to protect the Adirondack black bear. Re- 
ports from all sections of the forest indicate that this 
is a move in the right direction, and that, with suitable 
protection, the bear will soon multiply to such an extent 
as to become again an important factor in the game of 
the region. No estimate has been made of the number 
of these animals in the Adirondacks, but there is no 
doubt that unless proper protection is given, the black 
bear is in danger of becoming extinct in northern New 
York. 
Experience as a Teacher. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
During fifty-five years of shooting my experience 
has been varied, much of it pleasant and some bitter. 
Up to five years ago I was never injured with a gun 
nor injured anybody. At that time several of us were 
hunting rabbits in the woods, and one of the . party 
exclaimed, "There goes a rabbit." I looked quickly, 
and saw a rabbit scooting for all it was worth right 
past me, 15 feet distant. At the same instant he fired, 
and I received a number of the No. 7 shot deep in my 
thigh. He stood but 4 or 5 rods from me. If any of 
my readers have ever felt the sensation which I ex- 
perienced, I have no need to describe it to them, as 
they will ever remember it. It seems that a portion 
of the charge struck the side of a tree and glanced 
off the slippery surface under the bark and came 
straight for me, when the shot found both easy and 
warm lodgment. 
The shot cause me no inconvenience whatever, and 
I will carry them to my grave none the worse for 
them, but I do not care to repeat the experience, and I 
suggest that we had all better be just a little more care- 
ful, perhaps, when we are shooting among the trees. 
Some three months ago a friend and I were shooting 
quail in Connecticut. We were in adjacent fields some 
60 or 70 rods apart, with a stone fence between us. 
He fired at a bird and dropped it, and at the same time 
I felt a stinging sensation in my left eye. It was 
found that a piece of a No. 9 shot had passed through 
the eyelid and lodged on the white of the eye. A stray 
shot must have struck the wall and deflected. Eight 
weeks of torture caused me to visit the Williamsburgh 
Hospital, where Drs. Butler and Cameron made a 
thorough examination of the suffering member, and 
advised its removal, especially if I wished to retain the 
other (my shooting eye) in good condition. Well, I 
did, of course, and the following day I climbed upon 
the operating table (the same one, by the way, where 
a darling daughter had laid three months before, and 
is now hearty and well), and performed the operation, 
which was a splendid success. They have given me, 
another eye, which (although it cannot see) would 
astonish you — it is so perfect and life like. Glass eyes 
usually stare, because the removal has been clumsily 
done. If any of my brother sportsmen ever have the 
misfortune which came to me, let them write me and 
I will direct them to the best doctors in the country, 
and they will thank me as long as they live. Four weeks 
since I parted with that dear old eye which had done 
me good service for sixty-seven years, and now I am 
about ready to shoulder my little Baker hammerless 
again and make acquaintance with the ducks, as of 
old. A Happy New Year to editor and brother 
sportsmen, one and all. Uncle Dan. 
Orient Point, N. Y. 
Call Ducks. 
Madison, N. J., Jan. 25. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
I belong to one of the best clubs on the Virginia 
beach, the Princess Anne, and we use live decoys, 
geese, ducks and swan. Our ducks are bred as near 
mallard and black as possible, but some member of a 
nearby club recently sent down a stand of what he said 
were call ducks. 
Will you kindly give me your opinion as to their 
worth as decoj's for mallard, black, sprigs, widgeon, 
etc. Also, where I could procure some eggs to hatch 
under hens or ducks? I have suitable water — a good 
pond covering nearly two acres — in which I have had 
some English swans for three years. If these call ducks 
are not the "proper caper" for decoys, can you rec- 
ommend any other variety suitable for our use in Vir- 
ginia? I write simply as a member of the club afore- 
said, with personal interest only. M. T. 
[Call dttcks are a strain of small domestic ducks said 
to be imported from Holland, but no doubt common 
enough in this country. Often they are white, but 
usually resemble in color the mallard, from which they 
are no doubt descended. The name is given them on 
account of their noisiness, for they quack and gabble 
more than most ducks. We have seen them call to all 
sorts of birds flying by, and, of course, this practice 
is very useful to the gunner who is using them as de- 
coys. They would be useful as decoys for all the spe- 
cies mentioned. We do not know where these ducks 
or their eggs may be procured, and shall be glad if 
any of our readers can tell us.] 
