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Adirondack Guides of Brown's Tract
Brown's Tract is the name given to the Central Adirondack region that surrounds the three branches of the Moose River. The 210,000 acre tract was purchase by John Brown of Providence, RI in 1798 from the McComb Purchase. The minutes from the Guides first meeting in 1898 are transcribed below.
Members of Brown's Tract Guides 1907
Ansley C. V. - White Lake Corners Ainsworth, Jr. D. R. - Big Moose Ball J. E. - Old Forge Barber George - White Lake Corners Burke William H. - Old Forge Burke Fred - Old Forge Bull M. E. - Old Forge Burdick George A. - Big Moose Burdick George H. - Inlet Brown William T. - Old Forge Bratten Charles T. - Big Moose Barrett Eugene - Big Moose Barrett Thomas - Big Moose Barrows Frank P. - Talcottville Crego Richard - Boonville Chandler Nelson - White Lake Corners Commerford William - Boonville Commerford John - Boonville Commerford Garry - Boonville Church A. M. - Boonville Charbonneau David T. - Old Forge Charbonneau W. D. - Moose River Covey H. H. - Big Moose Covey Earl W. - Big Moose Christy Philip - Old Forge Crego Roy G. - Boonville Delmarsh Eri S. - Inlet Dart William - Big Moose Delmarsh A. G. - Inlet Dalton James - Boonville Davis William S. - Lowville Fraula Dana A. - Fulton Chain Farley Silas K. - Boonville Grant H. D. Boonville Goodsell George - Old Forge Griffith Edwin L. - McKeever Gardner L. D. - Old Forge Goodrich Charles M. - Old Forge Hamilton L. S. - Big Moose House Eugene M. - Glenfield Holmes Frank - Old Forge Joslin F. S. - Old Forge Joslin G. V. - Big Moose |
Kenwell Wellington - Inlet Kirche C. D. - Inlet Lamont James - Fulton Chain Lamont Carl - Fulton Chain Loson Frank - Inlet Leitch Milo - Inlet Marks E. L. - Old Forge Martin Charles - Big Moose Norton R. D. - Inlet Oley M. J. - White Lake Corners Parsons Ira H. - Old Forge Parsons Ben - Old Forge Perkins J. J. - Old Forge Puffer G. D. - Big Moose Rivette George A. - Old Forge Rivette Peter - Old Forge Riggs Garrie - Boonville Rose John J. - Big Moose Rarick John J. - Inlet Risley A. F. - Old Forge Stell William - White Lake Corners Sperry W. D. - Old Forge Sprague John H. - Old Forge Sperry D. F. - Old Forge Smith Charles H. - Petries Corners Smith George W. - Big Moose Shepard George E. - Turin Sperry Benjamin - Old Forge Sherman S. B. - Boonville Stoddard George H. - McKeever White M. M. - Boonville Wadsworth J. B. - Honnedaga Wood Charles D. - Point Rock Wood J. A. Old Forge Weedmark Wellington - Old Forge Wood Alvin W. - Old Forge Yule Frank L. - Old Forge Young Francis A. - Petries Corners Van Aerman E. J. - Inlet Tiffany F. L. - Inlet Smith Millard - Hawkinsville Smith F. V. - McKeever Villiere George - Old Forge
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(Handwritten notes - some transcription errors possible, transcribed by Town of Webb Historian - Peg Masters)
Proceedings of meeting held at H. D. Grant's Boat Shop for the purpose of organizing.
These Guides were present:
G. Garie Riggs, Peter Rivette, Ira H. Parsons, Nelson Chandler, John Commerford, A. M. Church, Frank D. Williams, George Barber, Merritt M. White, Robert N. Roberts, William Commerford, H. Dwight Grant, Richard Crego
On a motion of Mr. Grant, Merritt M. White was chosen chairman and A. M. Church, clerk.
It was unanimously decided to organize a separate and distinct Guides Association for and in the Brown's Tract region. Richard Crego was duly elected President. Garie Riggs, Vice President, A. M. Church, Secretary/Treas.
At the suggestion of W. Commerford, it was decided that the name of the Association be The Brown's Tract Guide Association.
That John Commerford, William Stell, John E. Ball, Henry H. Covey, H. D. Grant, and Merritt M. White consitute an Executive Committee.
That all the Guides who were members of the Adirondack Guides Association from the Fulton Chain Branch be admitted as members without being further passed upon by the Executive Committee.
That the Executive Committee shall meet April 5th, 1898 at Grant's Boat Shop for business purposes.
That the Secretary procure all necessary books, stationary, and constitutions, and see to all printing for the use of the Association.
The following was adopted as a constitution and bylaws:
I. Whereas, The Brown's Tract Guides' Association was organized by about fifty of the leading guides of that section for the purpose of protecting fish, forest and game of the Adirondacks. They were encouraged in this undertaking by all the true sportsmen and law abiding citizens who loved the forests and native inhabitants of the woods and waters. They were lead to this action by practical knowledge of the rapid destruction of fish and game, both in and out of season, and fully realizing that some radical measure must be taken to prevent the wanton destruction of this most noble game and sport, they have banded themselves together to prevent as far as lies within their power its rapid and unlawful destruction by irresponsible persons, market and pot hunters. And
Whereas, during the past season the association has been instrumental in placing in the Adirondacks five elk thus showing their interest in propagating and preserving the game of the forests, it is earnestly urged that the public show its appreciation of this action by aiding in every possible way to preserve them from destruction, whether by the acts of lawless pot hunters, or others who would depopulate the woods of these and all other noble specimens that are the pride of all true sportsmen. Therefore be it resolved, that it is the sense of this Association and meeting, that the state should increase the number of game protectors and assign more protectors for the Forest Preserve.
II. Resolved, that this Association condemn buoy or anchor fishing and respectfully request the legislature to pass a law prohibiting fishing at buoys or anchors in waters inhabited by trout within the Forest Preserve.
III. Resolved, that this Association recommend the close season for wild deer from November 1st to August 1st inclusive.
IV. Whereas, In years past many men have been mistaken for deer and shot. And
Whereas, Hunters and sportsmen in their eager pursuit of deer have ot used sufficient precaution to distinguish the difference between men and deer. And
Whereas, The time has come when radical measures must be taken for the further protection of the deer in the forests which are fast being depleted. Therefore be it Resolved , that this Association most strenuously urge that no doe or female deer shall be killed at any time within the Forest Preserve.
V. Resolved, that this Association condem the sale of deer, venison, partridge, grouse, woodcock, or quail; also brook or lake trout, taken from the inland waters of this state, except the sale of live fish or game raised in confinement for the purpose of stocking or restocking the inland forests or waters.
VI. Resolved, that a close season for black bear shall be from May 1st to September 30th inclusive.
VII. Whereas, there is much talk of the appropriation by the state of 20 to 80 million dollars for the enlargement and improvement of the canals of this state, and Whereas, such improvement and enlargement would call for a much greater supply of water for their operation. Therefore, be it resolved, that it is the sense that this Association and meeting that the legislature should appropriate sufficient funds to purchase lands in the Adirondacks to the end that the supply of water may be increased, and not diminished by the cutting away of the forests.
VIII. Whereas, the question of lumbering the state lands within the Forest Preserve is now being discussed and whereas this in our judgment not only means the destruction of the forests but the destruction of the water supply of the state as well. Therefore, be it resolved, that this Association most strenuously protests against lumbering or cutting timber from state land.
IX. Whereas, Section 176 of the game laws of the state gives to the state game protectors the right to search without a warrant and withholds such rights from special protectors appointed by the state, and whereas the special protectors are much hampered in their work by their inability to make such search without a warrant.
Resolved, that the right of search without warrant given to the state protectors by law should also be extended to the special game protectors.
Goodsell Museum ~ TOWN OF WEBB HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | |
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