New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-29
Shelter Islanders Only Re-
greet Killing Is Reserved
for Game WardenS.
SLAUGHTER DEFENDED
BY DIR. HORNADAY.
Death Only Way to Stop Thiev-
ing, Says Zoo Director-Sag
Harbor Fights for Herd.


Shelter Island. Long Island, April IS.
Fishing is getting brisk and we men
are beginning TO get busy with our
farming but there amt one OF US that
amt ready to go out and catch those
pesky deer for the killing" and Charles
+ Henry Smith. farmer and president Of
the Shelter Island Village board of
trustees had summed up the attitude
~ the men who are looking forward
eagerly TO the determination Of the 200
wild deer on Shelter Island Monday
morning. The only feature Of the
slaughter that doesn't please Charles
Henry Smith and his neighbors is that
the states game wardens will kill the
animals-not they.
It's shame" said Mr. Smith.
"Those deer have destroyed my crops
and the crops of the other farmers.
Well be glad to get ria of them"
Across the way from Shelter Island,
on the northern shore of Long Islands
southern arm, is Sag Harbor. To-
night Caspar Schafer, general super
intendent of the Fahys Watch Com
pany and president of the local board,
called a meeting TO protest TO Albany
against killing the animals. Sag Har-
Dor, he said, threw open its fields TO
the deer if Shelter Island did not want
them.
Farmers Could Guard Crops"
at is absolutely senseless to murder
those animals" said Mr.. Schafer
Farmers could protect their crops
against the animals if desired. Occa-
sionally one OF the deer swims the
half-mile Of water between Shelter ISL
and and Sag Harbor and, il necessary.
The animals. lean from a winters hun
ger could be driven across 70 this part
Of Long Island. II is brutal and in
human to kill them"
Early this morning Chief State Game
Protector Legge visited the estate Of
$. VI. Smith, the "Borsx King" from
whose estate the deer escaped. Legge
told Edward Downs. caretaker of Mr..
/ Smiths place. that the fence around
\ Ailf utFi Aflif NnlNi Nahts UP 'i'N'N
than 100 acres. did not keep the ami
mails in the field. Legge added that
the deer would be shot Monday morn
ing.
"Those deer could be corralled,"
Downs told Legge
We've decided TO shoot them" re-
FLIED Legge. 1.-THE farmers say they'll
have 10 move from Shelter Island un
less the deer are DESTROYED"
But the deer will keep on escap
ing" objected Downs. I've can't keep
them in. They jump through the fence
or over II. You will always find wild
Geer on Shelter Island as long as Mr..
Smith keeps his deer field
Scarecrows Don't Scare Deer.
The Smith estate fronts on Shelter
Island Sound and extends inland quite
a distance covering in all more than
500 acres Next to this estate IS
Charles Nicholas. part Of which is
thickly wooded Il is in these woods
that the deer love to roam. The
Nichols estate borders on the farm OF
Captain Ben Walthers.
They eat up my cucumbers." COM
planned the farmer. And. durn EN-,
they take my caobages and spoil EN-.
II this keeps up III have to move out
OF here
As Captain Ben was speaking one Of
the foragers poked 4 timid nose
through the fence. Il nibbled AZ the
grass and. catching sight of youth
full Walthers coming after II with
pitchfork. Hoped away.
1--WE put up scarecrows 10 keep EN-
off, said Walthers. "I've even lit
lanterns AT night. Once Smith used 70
pay US for the damages those pesky
critters did, but he don't now
The "borax king" is the friend Of
these wild deer. Several times he has
saved them from being shot. Realiz-
ing that By his absence IN Oakland,
Cal. they were rid Of a formidable
foe. citizers Of Shelter Island com
planned 20 the State Conservation
Commission. Meetings were held in
Greenport in March. at which the
farmers were paciied by the news that
the deer would be killed.
pest Worse Than Egypt's.'
Egypt never was visited by such
pests" complained Capn Walthers.
''Nuther am | in favor of having EN-
driven TO sag Harbor. Let those
folks keep their hands off. say Them
animals II be coming back TO Shelter
Island
How much do the deer cost you a
year." Cap'n Wslthers was asked.
Nigh onto hundred dollars some
years" returned the farmer.
Saving the deer 10 repulsive to the
Shelter Island farmers. They must be
killed. Several said they would have
killed them before this If il was not
for the game laws
Henry NJ. Brigham. a New York
I ~ Cio,.o Noi
Icy Rod and Gun Club. to-day urged
Governor Whitman to prevent the
slaughter Mr.. Brigham says that the
proposed killing. especially Of the does
which are now heavy with fawn, would
be monstrOus.
Killing Necessary. Says Hornaday.
az this wanton slaughter has been
even contemplated by Commissioner