The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-19
MOOSE and ELK
TREKKED north
Last of All, the Wolves
Left the Adirondack
Wilderness.
REvIVING BIG GAME.
Now This Question Is to the
Front---Efforts in This
Direction Made.


Adirondack mountains. has come to be
a matter of interest in these days. 1t
has lately been ascertained that the
Adirondack country contains excellent
hay and grazing land for bison, and it
is hoped that number of these ami
mails viii soon be liberated in the
southwestern corner of Essex county,
not far from Indian Lake. The Ameri-
can Bison society bases its plans upon
the success of similar experiments in
New Hampshire. That Austin Corbin
has been able successfully to maintain
a herd at Newport, N. H., at similar
elevation at that selected for the Adir-
ondack experiment, is regarded as a
precedent which augurs well for the Es-
sex county plans, Mr.. Corbin has been
able to increase a herd of 80 to $50
head, and the animals are declared
to be in good condition Fed upon hay
for about five months Of the year, and
protected against the raids of pot
hunters" the Corbin bison have ex-
ceeded the hopes Of their henefactor.
1t is for this reason that, in spite Of
the questionable success Of moose and
elk experiments, the bison experiment
is gaining strength every day. Assem-
blyman Hooper introduced a bill to APP
propriate $4,000 for fencing, for the
purchase of a nucleus herd of not more
than 20 buffaloes and other necessary
expenses. This measure everywhere met
with friendly encouragement, was put
in the supply bill and now awaits the
governors action. This is the greatest
public movement yet inaugurated on
behalf of big game In the Adirondacks.
| Heretofore, wealthy men have devoted
large estates and money! to work of
this nature. DR.. Webb created one of
the most interesting parks in this coun-
try at Nehasane, N. H. bringing elk
from Wyoming and moose from Can
ada. Costly experiments have also been
undertaken by Edward Litehfeld, the
late William G. Whitney and DR.. A. A.
Low, whose holdings Of wild land in
the North Woods afforded wide
range. DR.. Webb and Mr.. Litchfield
maintained fences, While in other in
stances the animals were liberated, or
allowed to roam the forest at viii, and
today there are occasional signs and
sounds in the deep woods of the Adir-
ondacks to testify to the fact that their
efforts did not meet with entire defeat.
| In nearly every instance these big
game animals were protected BY men
hired privately, and every attention
was devoted to their welfare. The most
disastrous blow came from the big for
est fire about three or four years ago.
Thenthe forest contained, in addition
to moose and elk liberated by private
individuals, number Of each species in
which the state was interested, having
borne the expense incidental to their
capture, transportation, and liberation.
Woodsmen assert that the elk and
moose families prospered, and that
Iyoung animals were to be seen, al
though at somewhat infrequent inter-
| walls.
Some Of the big animals succeeded in
getting through the fences, and these,
together with elk and moose liberated
by the state, contributed to many ex-
citing and memorable incidents Of Ad-
| irondack outings. Some of the moose
which were set free by the state in the
vicinity of the upper Saranac Lake and
Paul Smiths harassed railway men and
farmers until shotguns loaded with
| fine bird shot were trained upon the
midnight raiders Of gardens and de-
| stroyers of apple trees. Golfers who re-
sorted to the Saranac Inn course some
| times found their chief opponent In the
game to be an inquisitive, aggressive
moose. 1t Is recorded that a player
who did not dream of seeing deni-
zens of the forest in such civilized
community was shocked when one
morning he stopped to pick up his golf
ball and was confronted by the long
| black head of a moose, which took a
surprising interest in the little white
object which had been driven across the
course, seemingly aimed at his lordship
The golfer Immediately sought refuge
| behind tree The moose was attract
led by the golfers sprinting, and pro-
ceeded further on his course Of inquiry
After a nerve-racking experience the
golfer reached the inn and refused tc
return to his favorite game until Mr.
Moose had been driven away into the
forest with hounds and men armed
with pans, bells and other instruments
capable of making great deal Of noise
So great a nuisance did elk and moose
become that many residents in the Ad.
irondack region heaved signs Of RELIEF
when the big creatures left the clear.
ings for the deep woods, or disappeared
entirely.
Forest fires felled timbers across thu
carefully constructed fences Of private
estates and a large number Of moos,
and elk escaped, Today we hear O
moose or elk rarely. A few were killet
by hunters in mistake for other game
but it has not been explained why o
where Adirondack moose and elk went
A former gamekeeper on the estate o
DR.. Webb says that within about /
years from the time DR.. Webb estab
lished herd of % moose and 6S ell
in an S,O00-acre enclosure, the 80 ami
mails had dwindled to one moose an,
six COW elk. What had become of Their
no one seemed to know. They ha
grown so ugly that it was found hes
to shoot the most unruly. The eve
head remained in the enclosure unit
the great forest fire destroyed the fenc
when they were driven to a small piec
of green woods that did not burn wit