The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-12
BEAVERS ON RAID OF
ADIRONDACK TREES.
They Cut Down Timber and
Build Dams, According to
New Complaint.
PROTEST. FILED IN ALBANY

ALBANY. July 11.-Followlng up a
complaint covering damage to property
by beavers. made to the former Con-
%servation Commission in 1912, II. H.
Convey. proprietor OF Camp Crag on
Big Moose Lake. In the Adirondacks,
and Judge William II. Stake of the
Court OF Common Pleas of Philadelphia
have now lodged a. new Indictment
against these little engineers of the
woods with Conservation COMMISSIONS
George ID. Pratt
AZ the office of the commission 1t was
said that the filing of these new gr1ev-
ances indicated a marked difference of
opinion concerning the states policy
toward these carefully protected ami
mails.
On one side 1t is contended that
they have multiplied TO such an extent
that some measure SHOULD be taken TO
curtail their operations. On the other
are arrayed most of the hotel and sum
mer resort interests OF the North Woods,
backed by the great numbers OF vaca-
%tionists who are taking "A growing in
terest In the beaver colonies.
Upon receipt of Mr.. Covey's letter
a preliminary investigation was ordered
by Commissioner Pratt. ]. II. La Pan,
confidential agent of the commission.
was shown The damage at Big Moose
by Mr. Convey. who explained hat on
May \. about 3 O'Clock n the morning.
the bcavers cut down three poplar trees
about thirty feet In front of one OF
ured about three nches in diameter
on the stump.
The gndwinr OF the raiders awakened
Mr.. Covey. who wen out and fright
ened them away. In the morning he
found that about twenty rods beyond
they had Gu; another poplar six inch g
on the stump. From this they were
driven away with stones.
The Investigation was continued along
the streams running into Big Moose
Lake from the south and east, and
twentN-one dams In all were located
They vary IN length from 20 to $50
feet. and are 3 or I feet high. on the
outlet OF Chuhb Pond are two. setting
Nne water from 81 to 50 feet back from
the old shore line into the timber. Be
low Constable Pond a dam i1a feet Ions
backs water up for n mile into Con.
stable Pond.
For a distance of four or five miles on
South Inlet there is dam after dam
eight In all. with a ninth on a tributary
OF the inlet. 1t was in this neighbor.
hood that beavers were originally lib
Grated by the state ten years ago. and
some OF these dams were among the
first built. A few OF them are now
abandoned, while Others show fresh
working. Above some Of them timbe,
has been killed by the flow. while above
Others the damage is negligible.
Among the residents and visitors al
Big Moose there ~ much division Of
opinion concerning damage by beavers
d.. ". Sperry OF Hotel Glenmore Is au,
thority for the statement that the trout
tshirg y improving year by year OF
account of the many reservoirs mad,
by the dams. The beaver ponds ar,
full ~ small trout. he saws.
Under the conservation law II il il
legal II mo,cst or disturb any wild
beavers or their dams or houses excep
with a permit. 10 he issued by th'
Commissioner, in cases Of damage I,
public or private property. Befor,
adopting any gener al pclicr in sucl
cases Commissioner Pratt has ordere,
a thorough investigation Of beaver con
ditions throughout The Adirondacks will
n view Of determining what action. /
any. should he taken.