The sun., 1919-01-19
LAST PANTHER GONE
FROM ACKNOWLEDGES
Moose Could Not Be Killed
Rapidly Enough to Crafty
Leanings Of Other Days.
WOLVES TARRIED LONGER
ny TAMARACK.

| n,drN last month there appeared in
kod and Gun letter signed a. G. s."
alleging the great destruction of deer in
tho Cold River district. OF the Adiron-
dacks through the agencies OF freezing
ana starving and the wiping out OF
extensive feeding ranges OF deer by
beaver workings. together with the kill
ing OF deer by a. bunch Of five panthers
Urged by between thirty and forty
wears of familiarity with the various
oackwoods sections OF the Adirondacks.
IN winter ms well as in spring and fab,
INDUCED in what seemed to ME to be
a pardonable spirity OF levity in reply
ing to the correspondence.
IN answer to my short lines came
"Balsam.' saying that he ran across o
party of hunters at Cold River in No
vsmber. 91S, and that the members
we're ua- taking a modern miracle OF
the loaves and fishes. being QUILTED
with sundry wet merctl ndise and a four
pound sack of Liberty flour. 1t was the
belief OF "Balsani' that the deer slayers
had seen the thtugs alleged and then
some
Again comes "Balsam" This secoad
appearance. however. must he duo to a
/ typographical short circuit. for. reason
ing from their diverse mental attitudes.
these two bearers Of The name can hardly
be one and the same correspondent
The present "Balsam'' essays TO cham
piou the cause OF "A c. s" and pro-
ceeds to call ME to account Cor "ur-
H'ortsmanlike' conduct. in that | doubted
the accuracy OF the report ot "A. c. s.
Z "Balsam' says that should hay,
known that the carcnsses reported by
~ {. s." We're from the preceding yard
ing season, which WIS uncommonly cold.
Deer Driven to Varationists.
Sure J did know this-any one con-
versant with the life OF deer would real
izc it-but Judging from the wording
OF "a. {. :" I doubted very strongly
that nc had such Il conception of tie
period In which the deer persisted
While the resorts around cola River
are not altogether Il terra incognita to
me. you are right ~Balslm,' in sur
missing that I have never fingered UNI
duly IN that popular neighborhood. W.
rnossbaCkS. when we HE away 10 thu
woods. oven to the Adirondacks. are
wont to seek the least beaten OF trails.
In this connection II may be wei 20
mention that last May passed through
as good deer country rs is - be found
In the Adirondacls. and spent some time
fishing well back in the woods. Not
only did no evidence OF excessive NOR
tally among deer present. but woods
men with whom | talked failed TO dwell
upon an unusual number OF winter dead
deer.
Concerning the quotation limited
woods "Baisam." that is incomplete.
In the original il reads "the limited
woods locality hunted over Even
/ those of lis who contine our pursuit OF
deer to still hunting cover hut IA rela- !
lively small area of deer grounds. Hence
Il Is very certain that about Cold River, |
where as a vogue deer are driven TO
the expectant vacationirt BY the guides
to the accompaniment OF raucous hula |
baIoo. the bulk Of wear and tear Ia 10 !
the trousers seat instead of to moccasin !
soles.
Beaver No Menace to Deer.
"Balsam.' supporting the MOTORS OF
"A. c. S." asserts that deer when |
yarded Up. aside from feeding on alder
buds. are entirely dependent upon the
green stuf"' OF the swamps for sub
slstence. BY green stun" I presume
"Balsam' means the conifers.
l know n good many regions where
I beaver. OF primary stock as we'll as.
like in the Adirondacks. of reiutrodut ed
origin, abide with deer, and the deer
population still maintains its balance.
Moreover. deer do not rely upon conifers
. and upon the produce of the poplar low
lands OF beaver for sustenance. Juniper
is the natural feed OF deer while in their
winter NaFnS, ana inns NsW IL more u
shrub OF the fats and ridge slopes than
OF beaver bottoms. Unfortunately, this
: "shin hemlock" OF the woods people is
rarely any too abundant nowadays.
Therefore deciduous browse is the
maiustay OF wintering deer. Balsan1.
while capable OF sustaining life in deer
during winters OF average severity. is
the last resort OF the hard put herds,
Nor is the FIR by any means confined TO
the swamplands where beaver are prone
10 carry on their engineering occupa-
tions.
While it admittedly Is true that the
hov from beaver dams devastates con-
siderable detached areas OF Adirondack
lowland wherein deer congregate TO feed
and spend the winter months, the CON
dition by no means constitutes menace
To deer propagation. The travelling
runways which have been excavatei b.
generations OF deer would OF themselves
obvate such a danger.
II at any future time interference Is
deemed necessary by those in whose
keeping the wild lands are placed. wise
measures to effect n reduction in the
ranks of beaver no doubt will be insti-
tuted We're an open season, however
short put in force indiscTiminate trap
ping ny the irresponsible would lead 10
the train of abuses that has in oil
times followed in the wake of license
applied to these coveted fur bearers.
/ Painters Gone From Atlantic.
| No. ''Balsam," you. personally or
otherwise. do not know that ten pam
theirs were seen in the counties OF Ham
ilton Franklin and Essex this year. Your