 36. National and State Game Preserves and Burg Refuges Out West there is said to be a feeling that game and forest conservation has gone far enough. In Montana particularly, the National Wool Growers Association has for some time been firmly convinced that the time has come to call a halt. Oh yes, a halt on the conservation of game and forest, but not on the free grazing of sheep on the public domain. No, not even while those same sheep are busily growing wool that is so fearfully and wonderfully conserved by a sky-high tariff that the truly poor Americans are forced to wear garments made of shoddy because they cannot afford to buy clothing made of wool. This is the testimony of a responsible clothing merchant in 1912. We can readily understand the new hue and cry against conservation that the sheepmen now are raising. Of course they are against all new game and forest reserves unless the woolly hordes are given the right to graze in them. Many men of the Great West, the West beyond the Great Plains, are afflicted with a desire to do as they please with the natural resources of that region. That is the great curse that today rests upon our game. When the nearest game warden is fifty miles away and big game is only five miles away, it is time for that game to take to the tall timber. But in the West and East and South there are many men and women who believe in reasonable conservation and deplore destruction. We have not by any means reached the point where we can think of stopping in the making of game preserves or forest preserves. Of the former we have scarcely begun to make, the majority of the states of our union know of state game preserves only by hearsay. But the time is coming when the states will come forward and perform the serious duty that they neglect today. Let the statesmen of America be not afraid of making too many game preserves, for the next year one per day would be none too many. Remember that on one hand we have the army of destruction and on the other the expectant millions of posterity. No executor or trustee ever aired in safeguarding an estate too carefully. Fifty years hence if your successors and mine find that too much land has been set aside for the good of the people they can mighty easily restore any surplus to the public domain and at a vastly increased valuation. Give posterity at least one chance to debate the question, were our forefathers too liberal in the making of game and forest reserves? We can always carve up any useless surplus of the public domain and restore it to commercial uses. But none of the men of today will live long enough to see so strange a proceeding carried into effect. The game preserves of the United States government are so small, with the exception of the Yellowstone and Glacier parks, that very few people ever hear of them and fewer still know of them in detail. It seems to be quite time that they should be set forth categorically, and it is most earnestly to be hoped that this list soon will be doubled. The Yellowstone National Park. This was the first of the national parks and game preserves of the United States. Some of our game preserves are not exactly national parks, but this is both by act of Congress. It is sixty-two miles long from north to south, fifty-four miles wide, and contains a total area of three thousand three hundred forty-eight square miles, or two million one hundred forty two thousand seven hundred and twenty acres. Its western border lies in Idaho, and along its northern border a narrow strip lies in Montana. It is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, and it is guarded by a detachment of cavalry from the United States Army. The superintendent is now a commissioned officer of the United States Army. The business of protecting the game is performed partly by four scouts who are civilians specially engaged for that purpose, but the number has always been totally inadequate to the work to be performed. At least one half of the public interest attaching to the Yellowstone Park is based upon its wild animals. There the average visitor sees, for the first time, wild mountain sheep, antelope, mule deer, elk, grizzly bears, and white pelicans, roaming free. But for the tragedy of the park bison herd, slaughtered by poachers from eighteen ninety to eighteen ninety three, from three hundred head down to thirty, visitors would see wild bison also. But now the few wild bison remaining keep as far as possible from the roots of tourist travel. The bison were slaughtered through an inadequate protective force, and then utterly inadequate laws. Lieutenant Colonel L. M. Brett, USA, superintendent of the Yellowstone Park, advises me, July twenty-ninth nineteen twelve, that the wild big game in the Yellowstone Park in the summer of nineteen twelve is as shown below, based on actual counts and estimates of the park's scouts, and particularly Scout McBride. The estimates of buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, sheep, and bear are based on actual counts, or very close observations, and are pretty nearly correct. Colonel Brett. Wild Buffalo, forty-nine, moose, five hundred fifty, elk in summer, thirty-five thousand, antelope, five hundred, mountain sheep, two hundred ten, mule deer, four hundred, white tail deer, one hundred, grizzly bears, fifty, black bears, one hundred, pumas, one hundred, gray wolves, none, coyotes, four hundred, pelicans, one thousand. The actual count of forty-nine wild bison in the park, ten of which are calves of nineteen twelve, will be to all friends of the bison a delightful surprise. Here to for the little band had seemed to be stationary, which if true would soon mean a decline. The history of the wild game of the Yellowstone Park is blackened by two occurrences, and one existing fact. The fact is, the town of Gardner is situated on the northern boundary of the park in the state of Montana. In Gardner there are a number of men armed with rifles, who toward game have the gray wolf quality of mercy. The first stain is the massacre of the two hundred seventy wild bison for their heads and robes already noted. The second blot is the equally savage slaughter in the early winter of nineteen eleven by some of the people of Gardner reinforced by so-called sportsmen from other parts of the state of all the park elk they could kill, bulls, cows, and calves, as a large band wandered across the line into the shambles of Gardner on buffalo flats. If the people of Gardner cannot refrain from slaughtering the game of the park, the very animals annually seen by twenty thousand visitors to the park, then it is time for the American people to summon the town of Gardner before the bar of public opinion, to show cause why the town should not be wiped off the map. The thirty-five thousand elk that summer in the park are compelled in winter to migrate to lower altitudes in order to find grass that is not under two feet of snow. In the winter of nineteen eleven and twelve, possibly five thousand went south into Jackson Hole and three thousand went northward into Montana. The sheep grazing north of the park and the general settlement by ranchmen of Jackson Hole have deprived the elk herds of those regions of their natural food. For several years past, up to and including the winter of nineteen ten and eleven, some thousands of weak and immature elk have perished in the Jackson Hole country from starvation and exposure. The ranchmen of that region have had terrible times in witnessing the sufferings of thousands of elk tamed by hunger and begging in piteous dumb show for the small and all too few haystacks of the ranchmen. The people of Jackson Hole headed by S. N. Leek, the famous photographer and lecturer on those elk herds, have done all that they could do in the premises. The spirit manifested by them has been the exact reverse of that manifested in Gardner. To their everlasting credit, they have kept domestic sheep out of the Jackson Valley by giving the owners of invading herds hours in which to get their sheep all out and over the western range. In nineteen oh nine, the state of Wyoming spent in feeding starving elk five thousand dollars. In nineteen eleven, the state of Wyoming spent in feeding starving elk five thousand dollars. In nineteen eleven, the United States government appropriated for feeding starving elk and exporting elk twenty thousand dollars. In nineteen twelve, the Campfire Club of Detroit gave for feeding hungry elk one hundred dollars. In nineteen ten and nineteen eleven, about three thousand elk perished in Jackson Hole. In nineteen eleven and twelve, Mr. Leek's photographs of the elk herds showed an alarming absence of mature bulls, indicating that now most of the breeding is done by immature males. This means the sure deterioration of the species. The prompt manner in which Congress responded in the late winter of nineteen eleven to a distressed call in behalf of the starving elk is beyond all ordinary terms of praise. It was magnificent. In fear and trembling, Congress was asked through Senator Lodge to appropriate five thousand dollars. Congress and Senator Lodge made it twenty thousand dollars, and for the first time the legislature of Wyoming appealed for national aid to save the joint stock herds of Wyoming and the Yellowstone Park. Glacier Park, Montana. In the wild and picturesque mountains of northwestern Montana, covering both sides of the great continental divide, there is a region that has been splendidly furnished by the hand of nature. It is a bewildering maze of thundering peaks, plunging valleys, evergreen forests, glistening glaciers, mirror lakes, and roaring mountain streams. Its leading citizens are white mountain goats, mountain sheep, moose, mule deer, and whitetail deer, and among those present are black and grizzly blares galore. Commercially, the one thousand four hundred square miles of Glacier Park, even with its sixty glaciers and two hundred sixty lakes, are worth exactly the price of its big trees and not a penny more. For mining, agriculture, horticulture, and stock raising, it is a cipher. As a transcendent pleasure ground and recreation wilderness for ninety millions of people, it is worth ninety millions of dollars and not a penny less. It is a pleasure park of which the greatest of the nations of the earth, whichever that may be, might well be overbearingly proud, and its accessibility is almost unbelievable until seen. This park is bounded on the south by the great northern railway, on the east by the Blackfoot Indian Reservation, on the north by Alberta and British Columbia, and on the west by the west fork of the Flathead River. Horizontally, it contains one thousand four hundred square miles, but as the goat climbs, its area is at least double that. Its valleys are filled and its lakes are encircled by grand forests of Douglas fir, hemlock, spruce, white pine, cedar and larch, and if ever they are destroyed by fire, it will be a national calamity a century long. So long as the American people keep out of the poor house, let there be no lumber cutting vandalism in that park, destroying the beauty of every acre of forest that is touched by axe or saw. The greatest beauty of those forests is the forest floor which lumbering operations would utterly destroy. Never mind if there is ripe timber there. The American nation is not suffering for the dollars that those lovely forest giants would fetch by board measure. What if a tree does fall now and then from old age? We can stand the expense. If posterity a hundred years hence finds itself lumberless and wishes to use those trees, then let posterity pay the price and take them. We are not suffering for them and our duty is to save them in violet and hand them down as a heritage that we proudly transmit unimpaired. The Friends of Wildlife are particularly interested in Glacier Park as a national game reservoir and refuge for wildlife. On the north in Alberta it is soon to be extended by Waterton Lakes Park. When I visited Glacier Park in 1909 with Frederick H. Kennard and Charles H. Conrad, I procured from three intelligent guides their best estimates of the amount of big game than in the park. The guides were Thomas H. Scott, Josiah Rogers, and Walter S. Gibb. They compared notes and finally agreed upon these figures. Elk 200, Moose 2500, Mountain Sheep 700, Mountain Goats 10,500, Grizzly Bears 1000 to 1500, Black Bears 2500 to 3000. As previously stated one of the surprising features of this new wonderland is its accessibility. The Great Northern lands you at Belton. A ride of three miles over a good road through a beautiful forest brings you to the foot of Lake McDonald and in one hour more by boat you are at the hotels at the head of the lake. At that point you are within three hours horseback ride of Sperry Glacier and the marvelous panorama that unrolls before you from the top of Lincoln Peak. At the foot of that peak we saw a big wild white mountain goat and another one watched us climb up to the Sperry Glacier. Mount Olympus National Monument. For at least six years the advocates of the preservation of American wildlife and forest mainly desired that the grand mountain territory around Mount Olympus in northwestern Washington should be established as a national forest and game preserve. In addition to the preservation of the forest it was greatly desired that the remnant bands of Olympic Wapiti described as Service Roosevelt should be perpetuated. It now contains 1,975 specimens of that variety. In Congress two determined efforts were made in behalf of the region referred to but both were defeated by the enemies of forest and wildlife. In an auspicious moment Dr. T. S. Palmer Assistant Chief of the Biological Survey Department of Agriculture thought of a law under which it would be both proper and right to bring the desired preserve into existence. The law referred to expressly closed the President of the United States with power to preserve any monumental feature of nature which it clearly is the duty of the state to preserve for all time from the hands of the spoilers. With the enthusiastic approval and assistance of Representative William E. Humphrey of Seattle Dr. Palmer set in motion the machinery necessary to the carrying of the matter before the President in proper form and kept it going with the result that on March 2, 1909 President Roosevelt affixed his signature to the document that closed the circuit. Thus was created the Mount Olympus National Monument preserving forever 608,640 acres of magnificent mountains valleys glaciers streams and forests and all the wild creatures living therein and thereon. The people of the state of Washington have good reason to rejoice in the fact that their most highly prized scenic wonderland and the last survivors of the Wapiti in that state are now preserved for all coming time at the same time we congratulate Dr. Palmer on the brilliant success of his initiative. The superior national game and forest preserve. The people of Minnesota long desired that a certain great track of wilderness in the extreme northern portion of that state now well stocked with moose and deer should be established as a game and forest preserve. Unfortunately, however, the national government could go no farther than to withdraw the lands and waters from entry and declare it a forest reserve. At the right moment some bright genius proposed that the national government should by executive order create a forest reserve and then that the legislature of Minnesota should pass an act providing that every national forest of that state should also be regarded as a state game preserve. Both these things were done and almost as soon as said. Mr. Carlos Avery, the executive agent of the board of game and fish commissioners of Minnesota is entitled to great credit for the action of his state and we have to thank Mr. Gifford Pinchot and President Roosevelt for the executive action that represented the first half of the effort. The new superior preserve is valuable as a game and forest reserve and nothing else. It is a wilderness of small lakes, marshes, creeks, hummocks of land, scrubby timber and practically nothing of commercial value. But the wilderness contains many moose and zoologically it is for all practical purposes a moose preserve. In it in 1908 Mr. Avery saw 51 moose in three days. Mr. Fullerton saw 183 in nine days and Mr. Fullerton estimated the total number of moose in Minnesota as a whole at 10,000 head. In area it contains 1,420,000 acres and the creation of this great preserve was accomplished on April 13, 1909. The Wichita National Game Preserve. In the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma there is a national game preserve containing 57,120 acres. On this preserve is a fence bison range and a herd of 39 American bison which owe their existence to the initiative of the New York Zoological Society. On March 25, 1905 the society proposed the national government, the founding of a range and herd on a basis that was entirely new. To the society it seemed desirable that for the encouragement of congress and the preservation of species that are threatened with extermination the scientific corporations of America and private individuals also should do something more than to offer advice and exhortations to the government. Accordingly the Zoological Society offered to present to the government delivered on the ground in Oklahoma a herd of 15 pure blood bison as the nucleus of a new national herd provided congress would furnish a satisfactory fenced range and maintain the herd. The offer was at once accepted by Honorable James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, and the society was invited to propose a site for a range. The society sent a representative to the Wichita National Forest Reserve who recommended a range and made a report upon it which the society adopted. By active congress the range was at once established and fenced. Its area is 12 square miles, 9,760 acres. In October 1908 the Zoological Society took from its herd in the Zoological Park nine female and six male bison and delivered them at the bison range. There were many predictions that all those bisons would die of Texas fever within one year but the party's most interested persisted in trying conclusions with the famous tick of Texas. Mr. Frank Rush was appointed warden of the new national bison range and his management has been so successful that only two of the bison died of the fever. The disease has been stamped out and the herd now contains 39 head. Within five years it should reach the 100 mark. Elk, deer, and antelope have been placed in the range and all save the antelope are doing well. The Wichita bison range is an unqualified success. The Montana National Bison Range. The opening of the Flathead Indian Reservation to settlement in 1909 afforded a golden opportunity to locate in that region another national bison herd. Accordingly in 1908 the American Bison Society formulated a plan by which the establishment of such a range and herd might be brought about. That plan was successfully carried into effect in 1909 and 10. The Bison Society proposed to the national government to donate a herd of at least 25 bison provided Congress would purchase a range, fence it, and maintain the herd. The offer was immediately accepted and with commendable promptness Congress appropriated $40,000 with which to purchase the range and fence it. The Bison Society examined various sites and finally recommended what was regarded as an ideal location situated near Ravalli, Montana, north of the Jaco River and northern Pacific Railway, and east of the Flathead River. The nearest stations are Ravalli and Dixon. The area of the range is about 29 square miles, 18,521 acres, and for the purpose that it is to serve it is beautiful and perfect beyond compare. In it the bison herd requires no winter feeding, whatever. In 1910 the Bison Society raised by subscription a fund of $10,526, and with it purchased 37 very perfect pure blood bison from the famous Conrad Herd at Kalispell, 22 of which were females. One gift bison was added by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Goodnight. Two were presented by the estate of Charles Conrad, and three were presented from the famous Corbyn Herd at Newport, New Hampshire by the Blue Mountain Forest Association. Starting with that nucleus, a 43 head in 1910, the herd has already, in 1912, increased to eighty head. The herd came through the severe winter of 1911-1912 without having been fed any hay whatever, and the founders of it confidently expect to live to see it increase to one thousand head. The Grand Canyon National Game Preserve of Northern Arizona embraces the entire Grand Canyon of the Colorado River for a meandering distance of 101 miles, an adjacent territory to an extent of 2,333 square miles, 1,492,928 acres. Owing to certain conditions, natural and otherwise, it is not the finest place in the world for the peaceful increase of wild game. The canyon contains few mountain sheep and mule deer, but Buckskin Mountain on the northwestern side is reeking with mountain lions and gray wolves, and both those species should be shot out of the entire Grand Canyon National Forest. It was on Buckskin and the western wall of the canyon itself that Buffalo Jones, Mr. Charles S. Byrd and their party caught nine live mountain lions in 1909. I regret to say that Buffalo Jones's catalog experiment on the K-Bob Plateau seems to have met an untimely and disappointing fate. For three years the bison and domestic cattle crossed and produced a number of catalogs, but in 1911 practically the whole lot was wiped off the earth by cattle wrestlers. Mr. Jones thinks that it was guerrillas from southern Utah who murdered his enterprise, partly for the reason that no other persons were within striking distance of the herd. Mount Rainier National Park This fine forest park is the great summer outing ground of the people of the state of Washington. Its area is 324 square miles and as its name implies it embraces Mount Rainier. Easily accessible from Seattle and Tacoma and fairly well though not adequately provided with roads, trails, tent camps, hotels, and livery transportation it is really the Yellowstone Park of the northwest. The Yosemite National Park in California is so well known that no description of it is necessary. Its area is 1,124 square miles, 719,622 acres. Its great value lies in its scenery, but along with that it is a sanctuary for such of the wild animals and birds of California as will not wander beyond its borders to the certain death that awaits everything that may be legally killed in that state. Crater Lake National Park Like all the national parks of America generally, this one also is a game sanctuary. It is situated on the summit of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. The wonderful Crater Lake itself is 62 miles from Calmouth Falls, 83 miles from Ashland, and it is 6 miles long, 4 miles wide, and 200 feet deep. This national park was created by active Congress in 1902. Its area is 249 square miles, 159,360 acres, and it contains Colombian Blacktail Deer, Black Bear, the Silver Gray Squirrel, and many birds chiefly members of the Grouse family. Owing to its lofty elevation, there are a few ducks. The Sequoia and General Grant National Parks were created for the special purpose of preserving the famous groves of big trees, Sequoia Giantia. The former is in Tulare County, the latter in Tulare and Fresno County, California, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The area of Sequoia Park is 169 605 acres, and that of General Grant Park is 2,560 acres. They are under the control of the Interior Department. These parks are important bird refuges, and Mr. Walter Fry, Forest Ranger, reports in them the presence of 261 species of birds, none of which may be hunted or shot. Into Sequoia Park, 20 dwarf elk and 84 wild turkeys have been introduced, the former from the herd of miller and lux. Other National Parks. Sully Hills National Park at Devils Lake, Fort Totten, North Dakota, area 960 acres. Platt National Park, Sulphur Springs, Oklahoma, on account of many mineral springs, area 848 acres. Mesa Verde National Park, southwestern Colorado, on account of cliff dwellings, and wonderful cliff and canyon scenery, area 66 square miles. National Monuments. Under a special act of Congress, the President of the United States has the power forever to set aside from private ownership and occupation any important natural scenery or curiosity or wonderland, the preservation of which may fairly be regarded as of national importance and a duty to the whole people of the United States. This is accomplished by presidential proclamation, creating a national monument. Under the terms of this act, 28 national monuments have been created up to 1912, of which 17 are under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and 11 are managed by the Department of Agriculture. The full list is as follows. Alaska, Sitka, Arizona, Montezuma Castle, Petrified Forest, Tonto, Grand Canyon, Tumacacori, and Navajo. California, Lassen Peak, Cinder Cove, Muir Woods, Pinnacles, Devils Postpile, Colorado, Wheeler, Colorado, Montana, Lewis and Clark Cavern, Big Hole Battlefield, New Mexico, El Morrow, Chaco Canyon, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Grand Quivira, Oregon, Oregon Caves, South Dakota, Jewel Cave, Utah, Natural Bridges, Munkin' Too Weep, and Rainbow Bridge, Washington, Mount Olympus, Wyoming, Devils Tower, and Shoshone Cavern. The National Bird Refuges says Dr. Ties Palmer. National bird reservations have been established during the past ten years by Executive Order for the purpose of affording protection to important breeding colonies of water birds or to furnace refuges for migratory species on their northern or southern flights or during winter. With few exceptions these reservations are either small rocky islets or tracks of marshland of no agricultural value. These reservations are of immense value to birdlife, and their creation represents the highest possible wisdom in utilizing otherwise valueless portions of the national domain. Dr. Palmer's alphabetical list of them is as follows, numbered in the order of their creation. Belfors, South Dakota, 34, Bering Sea, Alaska, 44, Bogoslof, Alaska, 51, Bretton Island, Louisiana, 2, Bumping Lake, Washington, 39, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 31, Chase Lake, North Dakota, 20, Chialam, Washington, 38, Clearlake, California, 52, Cold Springs, Oregon, 33, Concanooley, Washington, 40, Copalis Rock, Washington, 13, Colubra, Puerto Rico, 48, Deer Flat, Idaho, 29, East Park, California, 28, East Tumhalier, Louisiana, 14, Farrellon, California, 49, Flattery Rocks, Washington, 11, Forrester Island, Alaska, 53, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 56, Hawaiian Island, Hawaii, 26, Hazy Islands, Alaska, 54, Huron Islands, Michigan, 4, Indian Key, Florida, 7, Island Bay, Florida, 24, Kichess, Washington, 37, Kichellis, Washington, 36, Key West, Florida, 17, Clameth Lake, Oregon, 18, Locke-Catrine, Wyoming, 25, Malheur Lake, Oregon, 19, Matlaka Pass, Florida, 23, Minnadoka, Idaho, 43, Mosquito Inlet, Florida, 15, Nyabrara, Nebraska, 55, Palmasola, Florida, 22, Passage Key, Florida, 6, Pathfinder, Wyoming, 41, Pelican Island, Florida, 1, Pine Island, Florida, 21, Pribiloff, Alaska, 50, Quilaude Newtles, Alaska, 12, Rio Grande, New Mexico, 32, St. Lazeria, Alaska, 46, Salt River, Arizona, 27, Shell Keys, Louisiana, 9, Shoshone, Wyoming, 42, Siscawitt, Michigan, 5, Strawberry Valley, Utah, 35, Stump Lake, North Dakota, 3, Turn Islands, Louisiana, 8, Three Arch Rocks, Oregon, 10, Tortugas Keys, Florida, 16, Tuxedny, Alaska, 45, Willow Creek, Montana, 30, Yukon Delta, Alaska, 47. In addition to the above, the following governmental reservations have been established for the protection of wildlife. Yes Bay, Alaska, of 35,200 acres, Afogknuk Island, Alaska, 800 square miles, Midway Island's Naval Reservation, HT, Farreland Island, Point Reyes, and Ano Nuevo Island, California, Destruction Island, Washington, and Hawaiian Island's Reservation, Lasin. State Game Preserves in the United States, Pennsylvania. The proposition that every state, territory, and province in North America and everywhere else should establish a series of state forests and game preserves is fairly incontestable. As a business proposition it is today no more a debatable question or open to argument than is the water supply or sewer system of a city. The only perfect way to conserve a water supply for a great human population is by acquiring title to watersheds and either protecting the forest upon them or planting forests in case none exist. In one important matter the state of Pennsylvania has been wide awake and in advance of the times. I will cite her system of forest reserves and game preserves as a model plan for other states to follow, and I sincerely hope that by the time the members of the present state game commission have passed from the earth the people of Pennsylvania will have learned the value of the work they are now doing and at least give them the appreciation that is deserved by public spirited citizens who do large things for the people without hope of material reward. At this moment Commissioner John M. Phillips and Dr. Joseph Kalbfuss are putting their hearts blood into the business of preserving and increasing the game and other wildlife of Pennsylvania and the utter lack of appreciation that is now being shown in some quarters is really distressing. I refer particularly to the utterly misguided and mistaken body of hunters and anglers having headquarters at Harrisburg whose members are grossly misled into a wrong position by a man who seeks to secure a salary state position through the hostile organization which he has built up apparently for his own use. In the belief that those members generally are misled and not mean spirited and that the organization contains a majority of conscientious sportsmen I predict that air long the evil genius of Pennsylvania game protection will be ordered to the rear while the organization as a whole takes its place on the side of the game commission where it belongs. The game sanctuary scheme that Pennsylvania has developed is so new that as yet only a very small fraction of the people of that state either understand it or appreciate its far-reaching importance. To begin with Pennsylvania has acquired up to date about one million acres of forest lands scattered through 26 of the 67 counties of the state. These great holdings are to be gradually increased. These wild lands including many sterile mountain farms of no real value for agricultural purposes have been acquired first of all for the purpose of conserving the water supply of the state and they are called the state forest reserves. Next in order the state game commission has created in favorable localities in the forest reserves five great game preserves. The plan is decidedly novel and original but is very simple with all. In the center of a great tract of forest reserve a specially desirable tract has been chosen and its boundaries marked out by the stringing of a single heavy fence wire surrounding the entire selection. The area within that boundary wire is an absolute sanctuary for all wild creatures save those that prey upon game and in it no man may hunt anything nor fire a gun. The boundary wire is by no means a fence for it keeps nothing out nor in. Outside of the wire and the sanctuary men may hunt in the open season but at the wire every chase must end if the hunted deer knows enough to flee to the sanctuary when attacked so much the better for the deer. The tide of wildlife ebbs and flows under the wire and beyond a doubt the deer and grouse will quickly find that within it lies absolute safety. There the breeding and rearing of young may go on undisturbed. In view of the fact that hunting may go on in the forest reserve areas surrounding these sanctuaries no intelligent sportsmen needs to be told that in a few years all such regions will be teeming with deer, grouse and other game. Where there is one deer today there will be 20 10 years hence because the law of Pennsylvania forbids the killing of does and then there will be 20 times the legitimate hunting that there is today. For example the Clinton County game preserve of 3200 acres is surrounded by 120,000 acres of forest reserve which form legitimate hunting grounds for the game bread in the sanctuary reservoir. In Clearfield County the game sanctuary is surrounded by 47,000 acres of forest reserve. The game preserves created in Pennsylvania up to date are as follows in Clinton County 3200 acres in Clearfield County 3200 acres in Franklin County 3200 acres in Perry County 3200 acres in Westmoreland County 2,500 acres. It is the deliberate intention of the game commission to increase these game preserves until there is at least one in each county. It is the policy of the commission to clear out of the game sanctuaries all the mammals and birds that destroy wildlife such as foxes, mink, weasels, skunks and destructive hawks and owls. This is accomplished partly by buying old horses killing them in the preserves and poisoning them thoroughly with strictening. Each preserve now contains a nucleus herd of white-tailed deer some of them imported from northern Michigan. Ruffed grouse are breeding rapidly and in the Clearfield County reserve there are said to be at least 3,000. The game commission considers it a patriotic duty to preserve the wild turkey roughed grouse and quail rather than have those species replaced at great expense by species imported from the old world. In their work for the protection, preservation and increase of the game of Pennsylvania partly for the purpose of providing legitimate hunting for the mechanic as well as the millionaire the state game commissioners are putting a great amount of thought and labor and wherever their efforts are criticized their motives impugned or their honesty questioned by men who are not worthy to unlace their shoes it makes me tired and angry. New York The Adirondack State Park With wise and commendable forethought the state of New York has preserved in the Adirondack wilderness familiarly known as the North Woods a magnificent forest domain forever dedicated to campers outdoorsmen and hunters. At present 1912 it contains 2,031 square miles 1,300,000 acres of forest-clad hills valleys and mountains adorned by countless lakes and streams. By some persons it has been believed that in the state's forests the cutting and sale of large trees would be justifiable business and agreeable to the public but it has been demonstrated that this is not the case. The people of the state firmly object to the havoc that is unavoidably wrought by logging operations in beautiful forests. The state does not yet need any of the money that could be derived from such operations. The chief anxiety of the public is that hereafter forest fire shall be prevented no matter what fire protection may cost. The burning of coal on any railway operated through the Adirondacks should be made a penal offense. Montana In 1911 Governor Norris, Senator Cohn and the legislature of Montana at the solicitation of W. R. Felton, L. A. Huffman and others created the Snow Creek Game Preserve fronting for 10 miles on the Missouri River in the northern side of Dawson County. It is a magnificent tract of badlands very deeply eroded and carved and highly picturesque. The new state preserve contains 96 square miles but there is so little grazing ground for antelope and bison it is absolutely imperative that a narrow strip of level grassland should be added along the southern border. This proposed addition is being fiercely resisted by an organized movement of the sheep owners of Montana the National Wool Growers Association who naturally want the public domain for the free grazing of their tariff protected sheep herds. It remains to be seen whether the three sheepmen south of the preserve the only men who are really affected will be able to sort a movement that has for its object the development of a very good game preserve for the benefit of the 90 millions of the general American public. The range is necessary to contain representatives of the big game of the plains that has been so ruthlessly swept away and particularly the vanishing pronghorned antelope once very numerous in that region. In order to relieve the sheepmen of all trouble on account of that preserve the area should be enlarged to the right dimensions and made a national preserve. A bill for that purpose Senate 5286 is now before the Senate in Senator McLean's committee and help is needed to overcome the active hostility of the sheepmen who vow that it never shall be passed. All persons who read this are invited to take this matter up with their senators and representatives without a moment's delay. Wyoming The Teton State Preserve One of the largest and most important state game preserves thus far established by any of our states is that which was created by Wyoming in 1904. It is situated along the south of and fully adjoining the Yellowstone Park and its area is 900 square miles 576,000 acres. Its special purpose is to supplement for the elk herds and other big game the protection from killing that previously had been found in the Yellowstone Park alone. The State Preserve is an admirable halfway house for the migrating herds when they leave the National Park to seek their regular winter ranges in and around the Jackson Valley. In 1909 Wyoming established the Big Horn Game Preserve in the mountain range of that name. Into it, 25 elk were taken from Jackson Hole and set free in 1910 at the expense of the Sheridan County Sportsman's Club. Louisiana Great developments for the preservation of wildlife have recently been witnessed in Louisiana all due to the initiative and persistent activities of two men Edward A. McGillney of Avery Island, Louisiana and Charles Willis Ward of Michigan Lumberman and Horticulturalist. The Louisiana State Wildfowl Refuge on Vermillion Bay has an area of 13,000 acres. It was presented to the State by Messers Ward and McGillney and formally accepted and protected. It contains a great area of freshwater ponds and marshy meadows wherein grows an abundant supply of food for wildfowl. It contains several miles of gravel beach which during the winter season is visited by thousands of wild geese in quest of their indispensable supply of gravel. The ponds within its borders furnish feeding grounds for canvas-backed ducks, redhead, mallard, blackhead and various species of wild geese. Other state game preserves Idaho Payette River Game Preserve 230,000 acres California Pinnacles Game Preserve 2080 acres Wyoming Bighorn Mountains Game Preserve Montana Yellowstone Game Preserve Pryor Mountain Game Preserve End of Chapter 36 Chapter 37 of Our Vanishing Wildlife This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sarah Jennings Our Vanishing Wildlife by William T. Hornaday Chapter 37 Game Preserves and Game Laws in Canada As now set forth on the map of North America Canada is a vast country. We must no longer think of Ontario and Quebec as Canada West and Canada East because the new assistant nation owns and rules everything from Labrador to British Columbia and all the northern mainland save Alaska. Although the fauna of Canada is strictly boreal it is sufficiently dispersed and diversified to demand wise legislation and plenty of it. For a nation with an outfit of provinces so new Canada already is well advanced in the matter of game laws and game preserves and in some respects she has set the pace for her southern neighbours. For example in New Brunswick we see the Lordly Moose successfully hunted for sport not only without being exterminated but actually on a basis that permits it to increase in number. In Nova Scotia we see a law in force which successfully prohibits the waste of moose meat a loss that characterizes moose hunting everywhere else throughout the range of that animal. All over southern Canada the use of automatic shotguns in hunting is strictly prohibited. On the other hand the laws of Canadians are weak in not preventing the sale of all wild game and the killing of antelope. In the matter of game selling there are far too many open doors and a sweeping reform is very necessary. Speaking generally and with application from Labrador to British Columbia the American process of game extermination according to law is vigorously and successfully being pursued by the people of Canada. The open seasons are too long and the bag limits are too generous to the gunners. As it is elsewhere the bag limits on birds are a farce because it is impossible to enforce them save on every tenth man. For example in his admirable final report of the Ontario Game and Fisheries Commission 1912 Commissioner Kelly Evans says the Prairie Chicken which formerly was comparatively plentiful throughout the greater portion of the Rene River District has now become practically extinct in that region. Various causes have been assigned for this but it would seem as usual to have been mainly the fault of indiscriminate and excessive slaughter. Like the United States the various portions of Canada have their various local troubles and wildlife protection. I think the greatest practical difficulties and the most real opposition to adequate measures is found in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Is it because the French descended population is impatient of real restraint and objects to measures that are drastic even though they are necessary? In Ontario Commissioner Evans has been splendidly supported by the government and by all the real sportsmen of that province but the gunners and guerrillas of destruction have successfully postponed several of the reforms that he has advocated and which should have been carried into effect. So far as public moral support for game protection is concerned I think that the Prairie and Mountain provinces have the best of it. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Athabasca and British Columbia the spirit of the people is mainly correct and the chief thing that seems to be lacking is a Kelly Evans in each of those provinces to urge public sentiment into strong action. For example why should Alberta still permit the hunting and killing of prong-horned antelope when it is so well known that that species is vanishing like a mist before the morning sun? I think it is because no one seems to have risen up as G.O. Shields did in the United States to make a big fuss about it and demand a reform. At any rate all the provinces of Canada that still possess antelope should immediately pass laws giving that species absolute close seasons for 10 years. Why neglect it longer when such neglect is now so very wrong? Whether this is done or not I sincerely hope that hereafter no true American sportsman will be guilty of killing one of the vanishing antelope of Canada even though the law death give it. The Game Preserves of Canada In the creation of national parks and game preserves some of the provinces of the Canadian nation have displayed a degree of foresight and enterprise that merits sincere admiration. While in different provinces the exact status of these establishments may vary somewhat the main purpose of each is the same the preservation of the forests and the wildlife. In all of them a regulated amount of fishing is permitted and in some the taking of fur-bearing animals is permitted but I believe in all the birds and fur-less mammals are strictly protected. In some parks the carrying of firearms is still permitted but that privilege is quite out of harmony with the spirit and purpose of a game preserve and should be abolished. If it is necessary to carry firearms through a preserve as often happens in the Yellowstone Park it can be done under seals that are fixed by duly appointed officers and thus will temptation be kept out of the way of sinners. Up to this date I have never seen a publication which set forth in one place even so much as an annotated list of the game preserves of the various provinces of Canada and at present exact information regarding them is rather difficult to obtain it seems that an adequate governmental publication on this subject is now due and overdue. Ontario At the present time says Commissioner Evans in his final report the Algonquin National Park is the only actual game preserve in the province being in fact a game reserve and not a forest reserve but in the past at least a measure of protection would seem to have been afforded the game in most of the forest reserves owing to the fact that the carrying of firearms therein has been discouraged and it would appear to require but the passing of an order in council to render the carrying of firearms in all reserves illegal. It is sincerely to be hoped that not only will such action be taken without delay but also that all the forest reserves will be declared game reserves in the strictest sense. To this sentiment all friends of wildlife will join a fervent wish for its realization. As conditions are today it is impossible to have too many game reserves. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose by making every national forest and forest reserve on the whole continent of North America a game preserve in the strictest sense and we hope to live to see that and accomplished both in the United States and Canada. The Algonquin National Park is situated in the Perry Sound region just above the Muscoca Lakes and it has an area of 1,930 square miles. It is well stocked with moose, caribou, white-tailed deer, black bear and beaver. During the period of protection the beaver have increased so greatly that about 1,000 were trapped last year for the market by officers of the government and about 25 were sold to zoological gardens and parks at $25 each. The Ketico Forest Reserve area 1,560 square miles was created as the Canadian complement of the Minnesota National Forest and Game Preserve. The two join on the international boundary and each helps to protect the other. Both are well stocked with moose and will render valuable service in the preservation of a mid-continental contingent of that species. Alberta In the making of Game Preserves the province of Alberta has been splendidly progressive and liberal. The total result is fairly beyond the reach of ordinary words of praise. It sets a pace that should result in widespread benefits to the wildlife of North America. In it there is nothing faint-hearted. It should make some of our states think seriously regarding their own shortcomings in this particular field of endeavor. Alberta's National Parks Rocky Mountains Park 2,764,800 acres Yoho Park 1,799,680 acres Glacier Park 1,474,560 acres Buffalo Park 384,000 acres Elk Island Park 40,000 acres Jasper Park 3,488,000 acres Waterton Lakes Park 34,560 acres Totalling 9,985,600 acres The Rocky Mountains Park is near Banff. The Yoho and Glacier Parks are near Field. The Buffalo Park is near Wainwright, on the plains, and it was created and fenced especially as a home for the herd of American bison that was purchased in Montana in 1909. It now contains 1,052 head of bison, 20 moose, 35 deer, 7 elk, and 6 antelope. The Elk Island Park is near Fort Saskatchewan and Le Mans, and at this date, 1912, contains 53 bison, 28 elk, 30 deer, and 5 moose. The bison subsist entirely by grazing and upon hay cut within the park. Jasper Park, established in 1908, is on the Athabasca River and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway near Strathcona. 60 miles of the railway line lie within the park. Scenically, Jasper Park is a rival of Rocky Mountains Park and undoubtedly possesses great attractions for travelers who appreciate the beauties and grandeur of nature as expressed in mountains, valleys, lakes, and streams. Waterton Lakes Park is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of Alberta in the Rocky Mountains surrounding the Waterton Lakes. At present, it is 9 miles long from north to south and 6 miles wide, with its southern end resting on the international boundary and adjoining our Glacier Park. It is the home of a few bands of mountain sheep that carry very large horns. Through the initiative of Frederick Cave Rieland, the Campfire Club of America two years ago represented to the government of Alberta the great desirability of enlarging this preserve toward the north and west, the better to protect the mountain sheep, and other big game of that region. The suggestion was received in a friendly spirit and there is good reason to hope that at an early date the enlargement will be made. British Columbia This province has made an excellent beginning in the creation of game preserves. The first agitation on that subject was begun in 1906 by two sportsmen whose names in connection with it have long since been forgotten. On November 15, 1908 the Legislative Council of British Columbia issued a proclamation that created a very fine game preserve in the East Kootenay District between the Elk and Bull Rivers and northwestward thereof to the White River Country. By an unfortunate oversight the new preserve never has been officially named but we may designate it here as the Elk River Game Preserve. This preserve has a total area of about 450 square miles and includes a fine tract of mountains, valleys, lakes, and streams. It contained in 1908 about 1,000 mountain goats, 200 sheep, a few elk and deer, and about 50 grizzly bears. All these have notably increased during the period of absolute protection that they have enjoyed. It is probable that this preserve contains more white mountain goats than any other preserve that thus far has been made. It was in this region that Mr. John M. Phillips and Professor Henry Fairfield Osborne made the first mountain goat photographs ever made at close range. It is to be hoped that the protection of this preserve both as to its wildlife and its timber will be made perpetual. Frasier River Preserve Next, after the above, there was created in British Columbia a game preserve covering a large portion of the mountain territory that rises between the north and south forks of the Frasier River. It is about 75 miles long, about 30 miles wide, and contains about 2,250 square miles. Concerning its character and wildlife population, we have no details. Yellicum Game Preserve On the north side of Bridge River, a western tributary of the Frasier, about 20 miles above Lilluit, there has been established a game preserve having an area of about 215 square miles. Manitoba In the making of game preserves, Manitoba has made an excellent beginning. It is good to see from Duck Mountain in the north to Turtle Mountain in the south a chain of four liberal preserves, each one protected in unmistakable terms as following. Carrying firearms, hunting, or trapping, strictly prohibited within this area. The lake regions of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta form what is probably the most important wildfowl breeding ground in North America. To a great extent, it rests with those provinces to say whether the Central United States shall have any ducks and geese or not. It is high time that an international treaty should be made between the United States, Canada and Mexico for the federal protection of all migratory birds. These preserves are of course intended to conserve wildfowl, shorebirds, grouse, and all other birds as well as big game. Thanks to the cooperation of Mr. J. M. Macoon of the Canadian Geological Survey, I am able to offer the following. List of Manitoba's game preserves Duck Mountain Preserve 207,360 acres Riding Mountain Preserve 230,000 acres Spruce Woods Preserve 40,960 acres Turtle Mountain Preserve 64,000 acres Totalling 542,320 acres Manitoba is to be congratulated on this record. Quebec This province has created two huge game preserves well worthy of the fauna that they are intended to conserve when all hunting in them is prohibited. The Laurentides National Park is second in area of all the national parks of Canada being surpassed only by the Rocky Mountains Park of British Columbia. Its area is 3,565 square miles or 2,281,600 acres. It occupies the entire central portion of the great area surrounded by Lake St. John, the Saginae River, the wide portion of the St. Lawrence, and the San Maurice River on the west. Its southern boundary is in several places only 16 miles from the St. Lawrence, while its most northern angle is within 13 miles of Lake St. John. Its greatest width from east to west is 71 miles, and its greatest length from north to south is 79 miles. It covers a huge watershed in which over a dozen large rivers and many small ones have their sources. It is indeed a forest primeval. The rivers are well stocked with fish, and the big game includes moose, woodland caribou, black bear, lynx, beaver, marten, fisher, mink, fox, and sad to say the gray wolf. The caribou live in rather small bands from 10 up to 100. Unfortunately, hunting under license is permitted in the Laurentian National Park and therefore it is by no means a real game preserve. It is a near preserve. The Gaspecian Forest Fish and Game Preserve created in 1906 is in the Gaspe country, and it has an area of 2,500 square miles situated in the eastern Quebec counties of Gaspe and Matane. The Canot National Park to be named in honour of His Royal Highness the Duke of Canot has been proposed by Mr. J. Mccune of the Canadian Geological Survey. The general location chosen is the mountains and forested territory north of Ottawa and the Ottawa River within easy access from the Canadian capital. On the map the location recommended lies between the Gatineau River on the east and Wolf Lake on the west. The proposal is meeting with much popular favour and it is extremely probable that it will be carried into effect at an early date. Labrador During the past two years Lieutenant Colonel William Wood has strongly advocated the making of game preserves in Labrador that will not only tend to preserve the scanty fauna of that region from extinction but will also aid in bringing it back. While Colonel Wood's very energetic and praiseworthy campaign has not yet been crowned with success, undoubtedly it will be successful in the near future because ultimately such causes always win their objects because they are prosecuted with the firm and unflagging persistence which has characterized this particular campaign. We congratulate Colonel Wood on the success that he will achieve in the near future. Game Laws of the Canadian Provinces Alberta The worst feature of the Alberta Laws is the annual open season on Antelope, two of which may be killed under each license. This is entirely wrong and a perpetual closed season should at once be enacted. Duck shooting in August is wrong and the season should not open until September. It is not right that duck killing should be made so easy and so fearfully prolonged that extermination is certain. All killing of cranes and shorebirds should be absolutely stopped for five years. No wheat producing province can afford the expense to the wheat crops of the slaughter of shorebirds, 30 species of which are great crop protectors. The bag limit of two sheep is too high by 50%. It should immediately be cut down to one sheep before sheep hunting in Alberta becomes a lost art. Sheep hunting should not be encouraged. Quite the reverse, there are already too many sheep crazy sportsmen. The bag limit on grouse and tarmigan of 20 per day or 200 in a season is simply legalized slaughter no more and no less and if it is continued a grouse less province will be the quick result. The birds are not sufficiently numerous to withstand the guns on that basis. Alberta should be wiser than the states below the international boundary that are annihilating their remnants of birds as fast as they can be found. British Columbia We note with much satisfaction that the provincial game warden Mr. A. Brian Williams has been allowed $37,000 for the pay of game wardens. And $28,000 for the destruction of wolves, coyotes, pumas and other game destroying animals. During the past two years the following game destroyers were killed and bounties were paid upon them. Wolves, coyotes, cougars, horned owls, golden eagles totaling $3,374 in 1909, 1910 and $6,806 in 1910, 1911. Now says Warden Williams in his excellent annual report for 1911. In these two years a total of 2,896 wolves and cougars and 5,141 coyotes were destroyed as well as a number of others poisoned and not recovered for the bounty. Allowing $50 head for each wolf and cougar and $10 for each coyote by their bounties alone $196,210 head of game and domestic animals were saved. Is it any wonder that deer are increasing almost everywhere? The great horned owl has been and still is a great scourge to the upland game birds partly because when game is abundant they become fastidious and eat only the brains of their prey. The destruction of 3,139 of them on the Lower Mainland during the last two years has made these owls sing very small and says the Warden is it any wonder that grouse are again increasing? I have discussed with the provincial game Warden the invisibility of putting a limit of one on the grizzly bear but Mr. Williams advances good reasons for the opinion that it would be impractical to do so at present. I am quite sure however that the time has arrived when a limit of one is necessary. During the present year three of my friends who went hunting in British Columbia each killed three grizzly bears. Here after I will locate no more bear hunters in that country until the bag limit is reduced to one grizzly per year. Since 1905 the trapping of bears south of the mainline of the Canadian Pacific Railway has been stopped and an excellent move too. A rocky mountain without a grizzly bear is like a tissue paper rose. The bag limit on the big game of British Columbia is at least twice too liberal. Five deer two elk two moose one in Kootenay County three caribou and three goats. There is no necessity for such wasteful liberality. Few sportsmen go to British Columbia for the sake of a large lot of animals. I know many men who have been there to hunt and the great majority cared more for the scenery and the wild romance of camping out in ground mountains than for blood and trophies. Manitoba What are we to think of a bag limit of 50 ducks per day in October and November? A limit indeed. Evidently Manitoba is tired of having ducks, roughed grouse, penaded in other grouse, pestering her farmers and laborers. While assuming to fix bag limits that will be of some benefit to those species the limit is distinctly off and nothing short of a quick and drastic reform will save a remnant that will remain visible to the naked eye. New Brunswick This is the Banner Province in the protection of moose, caribou and deer, even while permitting them to be shot for sport. Of course only the males are killed and I am assured by competent judges that thus far the killing of the finest and largest male moose has had no bad effect upon the stature or antlers of the species as a whole. Nova Scotia If there is anything wrong in the game laws of Nova Scotia it lies in the wide open sale of moose meat and all kinds of feathered game during the open season. If that province were more heavily populated it would mean a great destruction of game. Even with conditions as they are the sale permitted is entirely wrong and against the best interests of 97% of the people. As previously mentioned the law against the waste of moose meat is both novel and admirable. The saving of any considerable portion of the flesh of a full grown bull moose along with its head is a large order but it is right. The degree of accountability to which guides are held for the doings of men whom they pilot into the woods is entirely commendable and worthy of imitation. If a sportsman or gunner does the wrong thing the guide loses his license. Saskatchewan This is another of the two liberal provinces having no real surplus of big game with which to sustain for any length of time and excess of generosity. I am told that in this province there is now a great deal of open country around each wild animal and yet it cheerfully offers two moose two elk two caribou and two antelope per season to each licensed gunner or sportsman. The limit is too generous by half. Why throw away an extra $250 worth of game with each license? That is precisely what the people of Saskatchewan are doing today. And that antelope killing it should be stopped at once and for 10 years. Yukon This province permits the sale of all the finest and best wild game within its borders. Moose, elk, caribou, bison, muskox, sheep, and goats. The flesh of all these may be sold during the open season and for 60 days thereafter. Of the species named above the barren ground caribou is the only one regarding which we need not worry because that species still exists in millions. The Osborn caribou can be exterminated in our own times because it is nowhere really numerous and it inhabits exposed situations. End of Chapter 37 Private Game Preserves Primarily in the early days of the Man on Horseback the self-elected and predatory lords of creation evolved the Private Game Preserve as a scheme for preventing other fellows from shooting and for keeping the game sacred to slaughter by themselves. The idea of conserving the game was a fourth-rate consideration the first being the estoppel of the other man. The old world owner of a game preserve delights in the annual killing of the surplus game and we have even heard it whispered that in the Dark Ages there were kings who enjoyed the wholesale slaughter of deer, wild boar, pheasants and grouse. If we may accept as true the history of sport in Europe there have been men who have loved slaughter with a genuine bloodlust that is quite foreign to the real nature-loving sportsmen. In America the impulse is different. Here there is raging a genuine fever for private game preserves. Some of those already existing are of fine proportions and cost fortunes to create. Every true sportsman who is rich enough to own a private game preserve sooner or later acquires one. You will find them scattered throughout the temperate zone of North America from the Bay of Fundy to San Diego. I have had invitations to visit preserves in an unbroken chain from the farthest corner of Quebec to the Pacific Coast and from Grand Island Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. It was not necessarily to hunt and kill something but to see the game and the beauties of nature. The wealthy American and Canadian joyously buys attractive wilderness, fences it, stalks it with game both great and small and provides gamekeepers for all the year round. At first he has an idea that he will hunt therein and that his guests will hunt also and actually kill game. In a mild way this fiction sometimes is maintained for years. The owner may each year shoot two or three head of his surplus big game and his tenderfoot guests who don't know what real hunting is may also kill something each year. But in most of the American preserves with which I am well acquainted the gentlemanly sport of hunting big game is almost a joke. The trouble is usually the owner becomes so attached to his big game and admires it so sincerely he has not the heart to kill it himself and finds no joy whatever in seeing it shot down by others. In this country the slaughter of game for the market is not considered a gentlemanly pastime even though there is a surplus of preserve bread game that must be reduced. To the average American the slaughter of half tame elk, deer and birds that have been bread in a preserve does not appeal in the least. He knows that in the protection of a preserve the wild creatures lose much of their fear of man and become easy marks and shall a real sportsman go out with a gun and a bushel of cartridges on a pony and without warning betray the confidence of the wild in terms of fire and blood others may do it if they like but as a rule that is not what an American calls sport. One wide awake and well armed grizzly bear or mountain sheep outwitted on a mountain side is worth more as a sporting proposition than a quarter of a mile of deer carcasses laid outside by side on an ice park lawn to be photographed as one day's kill. In America the shooting of driven game is something of which we know little saved by hearsay. In Europe it is practiced on everything from scotch grouse to Italian ibex. The German crown prince in his fascinating little volume very neatly fixes the value of such shooting as a real sportsman's proposition in the following sentence The shooting of driven game is merely a question of marksmanship and is after all more in the nature of a shooting exercise than sport. I have seen some shooting in preserves that was too tame to be called sport but on the other hand I can testify that in gross shooting as it is done behind the dogs on Mr. Carnegie's more at Scebo it is sport in which the hunter earns every grouse that falls to his gun. At the same time also I believe that the shooting of madly running ibex as it is done by the king of Italy in his three mountain preserves is sufficiently difficult to put the best big game hunter to the test. There are times when shooting driven game calls for far more dexterity with the rifle than is ordinarily demanded in the still hunt. In America as in England and on the continent of Europe private game preserves are so numerous it is impossible to mention more than a very few of them unless one devotes a volume to the subject. Probably there are more than five hundred and no list of them is up to date for more than one day because the number is constantly increasing. I make no pretense even of possessing a list of those in America and I mention only a few of those with which I am best acquainted by way of illustration. One of the earliest and most celebrated deer parks of the United States was that of Honorable John Dean Catton of two hundred acres located near Ottawa, Illinois established about 1859. It was the experiments and observations made in that park that yielded Judge Catton's justly famous book on The Antelope and Deer of America. The first game preserve established by an incorporated club was Blooming Grove Park of one thousand acres in Pennsylvania where great success has been attained in the breeding and rearing of white-tailed deer. In the eastern United States the most widely known game preserve is Blue Mountain Forest Park near Newport, New Hampshire. It was founded in 1885 by the late Austin Corbin and has been loyally and diligently maintained by Austin Corbin Jr. George S. Edgell and the other members of the Corbin family. Ownership is vested in the Blue Mountain Forest Association. The area of the preserve is twenty-seven thousand acres and besides embracing much fine forest on Croydon Mountain it also contains many converted farms whose meadowlands afford good grazing. This preserve contains a large herd of bison eighty-six had elk, white-tailed deer, wild boar and much smaller game. The annual surplus of bison and other large game is regularly sold and distributed throughout the world for the stocking of other parks and zoological gardens. Each year a few surplus deer are quietly killed for the Boston market but a far greater number are sold alive at from twenty-five dollars to thirty dollars each in carload lots. In the Adirondacks of Northern New York there are great many private game preserves. Dr. T. S. Palmer in his pamphlet on private game preserves Department of Agriculture places the number at sixty and their total area at seven hundred ninety-one thousand two hundred eight acres. Some of them have caused much irritation among some of the hunting, fishing and trapping residents of the Adirondack region. They seem to resent the idea of the exclusive ownership of lands that are good hunting grounds. This view of property rights has caused much trouble and some bloodshed, two persons having been killed for presuming to assert exclusive rights in large tracts of wilderness property. In the Upland Preserve under private ownership, says Dr. Palmer, may be found one of the most important factors in the maintenance of the future supply of game and game birds. Nearly all such preserves are maintained for the propagation of deer, quail, grouse or pheasants. They vary widely in area, character and purpose and embrace some of the largest game refuges in the country. Some of the preserves in North Carolina cover from fifteen thousand to thirty thousand acres. Several in South Carolina exceed sixty thousand acres in extent. The Megantic Club's Northern Preserve on the boundary between Quebec and Maine embraces nearly two hundred square miles or upward of a hundred and twenty-five thousand acres. Comparatively few of the larger preserves are enclosed and on such grounds hunting becomes sport quite as genuine as it is in regions open to free hunting. In some instances part of the tract is fenced while large unenclosed areas are protected by being posted. The character of their tenure varies also. Some are owned in fee simple, others, particularly the larger ones, are leased or else comprised merely the shooting rights on the land. In both size and tenure the upland preserves of the United States are comparable with the grouse moors and large deer forests of Scotland. Of the game preserves in the South I know one that is quite ideal. It is St. Vincent Island near Apalachioa, Florida in the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico. It was purchased in 1909 by Dr. Ray V. Pierce and his guests kill perhaps one hundred ducks each year out of the thousands that flock to the ten big ponds that occupy the eastern third of the island. Into those ponds much good duck food has been introduced Potamagetan pectinatus and perfoliatus. The area of the island is twenty square miles. Besides being a great winter resort for the ducks it's sandy, pine-covered ridges and jungles of palms. Two and live oak afford fine haunts and feeding grounds for deer. Those jungles contain two species of white-tailed deer Otocolius, Louisiana and Oceola. And Dr. Pierce has introduced the Indian Sambar deer and Japanese Sika deer. Service Sika both of which are doing well. We are watching the progress of those big Sambar deer with very keen interest and it is to be recorded that already that species has crossed with the Louisiana white-tailed deer. During the autumn of 1912 public attention in the United States was for a time focused on the purchase of Marsh Island, Louisiana by Mrs. Russell Sage and its permanent dedication to the cause of wildlife protection. This delightful event has brought in to notice the Louisiana State Game Preserve of 13,000 acres near Marsh Island and its hinterland and water of 11,000 acres adjoining which constitutes the ward McGill-Henney Wildfowl Preserve. These three great preserves taken together as they lie form a wildfowl sanctuary of great size and of great value to the whole Mississippi Valley. Now that all duck shooting therein has been stopped it is safe to predict that they shortly will be inhabited by a wildfowl population that will really stagger the imagination. Duck shooting preserves A ducking preserve is a large tract of land and water owned by a few individuals or a club for the purpose of preserving exclusively for themselves and their friends the best possible opportunities for killing large numbers of ducks and geese without interference. In no sense whatever are they intended to preserve or increase the supply of wildfowl. The real object of their existence is duck and goose slaughter. For example the worst goose slaughter story on record comes to us from the grounds of the Glenn Country Club in California whereon, as stated elsewhere, two men armed with automatic shotguns killed 218 geese in one hour and bagged a total of 452 in one day. I shall not attempt to give any list of the so-called ducking preserves. The word preserve when applied to them is a misnomer. Thirteen states have these incorporated slaughtering grounds for ducks and geese the greatest number being in California, Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia. California has carried the ducking club idea to the limit where it is claimed that it constitutes an abuse. Dr. Palmer says that one or two of the club preserves on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley contain upward of 40 square miles or 25,000 acres each. With considerable asparity it is now publicly charged in the columns of the Examiner of San Francisco that for the unattached sportsman there is no longer any duck shooting to be had in California because all the good ducking grounds are owned and exclusively controlled by the clubs. In many states the private game preserves are a source of great irritation and many have been attacked in courts of law. But I am not sorrowing over the woes of the unattached duck hunter or in the least inclined to champion his cause against the ducking club member. As slaughterers and exterminators of wild foul rarely exercising mercy under ridiculous bag limits they have both been too heedless of the future and one is just as bad for the game as the other. If either of them favored the game I would be on his side but I see no difference between them. They both kill right up to the bag limit as often as they can and that is what is sweeping away all our feathered game. Curiously enough the angry unattached duck hunters of California are today proposing to have revenge on the duck clubbers by removing all restrictions on the sale of game. This is on the theory that the duckless sportsman of the state of California would like to buy dead ducks and geese for their tables. It is a novel and original theory but the sane people of California never will enact it into law. It would be a step just twenty years backward. The public versus the private game preserve. Both the executive and the judiciary branches of our state governments will in the future be called upon with increasing frequency to sit in judgment on this case. Conditions about us are rapidly changing. The precepts of yesterday may be out of date and worthless tomorrow. By way of introspection let us see what principles of equity toward man and nature we would lay down as the basis of our action if we were called to the bench. Named in logical sequence they would be about as follows. Any private game preserve that is maintained chiefly as a slaughter ground for wild game either birds or mammals may become detrimental to the interests of the people at large. It is not necessarily the duty of any state to provide for the maintenance of private death traps for the wholesale slaughter of migratory game. An oppressive monopoly in the slaughter of migratory game is detrimental to the interests of the public at large the same as any other monopoly. Every de facto game preserve maintained for the preservation of wildlife rather than for its slaughter is an institution beneficial to the public at large and therefore entitled to legal rights and privileges above and beyond all which may rightly be accorded to the so-called preserves that are maintained as killing grounds. The law may justly discriminate between the actual game preserve and the mere killing ground. Whenever a killing ground becomes a public burden it may be abated the same as any other public inflection. In private game preserves the time has arrived when lawmakers and judges must begin to apply the blood test and separate the true from the false and at every step the welfare of the wildlife involved must be given full consideration. No man nor body of men should be permitted to practice methods that spell extermination. End of Chapter 38 This brief chapter is offered as an object lesson to the world at large. In the early days of America the founders of our states and territories gave little heed or none at all to the preservation of wildlife. Even if they thought of that duty undoubtedly they felt that the game would always last and that they had no time for such sentimental side issues as the making of game preserves. They were coping with troubles and perplexities of many kinds and it is not to be wondered at that up to forty years ago real game protection in America went chiefly by default. In South Africa precisely the same conditions have prevailed until recent times. The early colonists were kept so busy shooting lions and making farms that not one game preserve was made. If any men can be excused from the work and worry of preserving game and making preserves it is those who spend their lives pioneering and state building in countries like Africa. Men who continually have to contend with disease, bad food, rains, insect pests, dangerous wild beasts, and native cussedness may well claim that they have troubles enough without going far into campaigns to preserve wild animals in countries where animals are plentiful and cheap. It is for this reason that the people of Alaska cannot be relied upon to preserve the Alaskan game. They are busy with other things that are of more importance to them. In May 1900 representatives of the great powers owning territory in Africa held a conference in the interests of the wild animal life of that continent. As a result a convention was signed by which those powers bound themselves quote to make provision for the prevention of further undue destruction of wild game end quote. The principles laid down for universal observance were as follows. Number one, sparing of females and immature animals. Two, the establishment of closed seasons and game sanctuaries. Three, absolute protection of rare species. Four, restrictions on export for trading purposes of skins, horns, tusks, etc. Five, prohibition of the use of pits, snares, and game traps. The brave and hearty men who are making for the British people a grand empire in Africa probably are greater men than far distant people realize. To them the white man's burden of game preservation is accepted as all in the day's work. A mere handful of British civil officers strongly aided by the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the British Empire have carved out and set aside a great chain of game preserves reaching all the way from Swaziland and the Transvaal to Khartoum. Taken either collectively or separately it represents grand work characteristic of the greatest colonizers on earth. Those preserves are worthy stones in the foundation of what one day will be a great British empire in Africa. The names of the men who proposed them and wrought them out should in some way be imperishably connected with them as their founders as the least reward that posterity can bestow. In Major J. Stevenson Hamilton's fine work Animal Life in Africa the author has been at much pains to publish an excellent series of maps showing the locations of the various British game preserves in Africa and the map published herewith has been based chiefly on that work. It is indeed fortunate for the wildlife of Africa that it has today so powerful a champion and exponent as this author the Warden of the Transvaal game preserves. Events move so rapidly that up to this date no one so far as I am aware has paused long enough to make and publish an annotated list of the African game preserves. Herein I have attempted to begin that task myself and I regret that at this distance it is impossible for me to set down under the several titles the names of the men who made these preserves possible and actually founded them. To thoughtful Americans I particularly commend this list as a showing of the work of men who have not waited until the game had been practically exterminated before creating sanctuaries in which to preserve it. In view of these results how trivial and small of soul seems the mercenary efforts of the organized wool growers of Montana to thwart our plan to secure a paltry fifteen square miles of grasslands for the rugged and arid Snow Creek Antelope preserve that is intended to help save a valuable species from quick extermination. At this point I must quote the views of a high authority on the status of wildlife and game preserves in Africa. The following is from Major Stevenson Hamilton's book. It is a remarkable phenomenon in human affairs how seldom the experience of others seems to turn the scale of action. There are, I take it, very few farmers in the Cape Colony, the Orange Free State or the Trans Val who would not be glad to see an adequate supply of game upon their land. Indeed the writer is constantly dealing with applications as to the possibility of reintroducing various species from the game reserves to private farms and only the question of expense and the difficulty of transport have up to the present prevented this being done on a considerable scale. When, therefore, the relatively small populations of such protectorates as are still well stocked with game are heard eerily discussing the advisability of getting rid of it as quickly as possible, one realizes how often vain are the teachings of history and how well nigh hopeless it is to quote the result of similar action elsewhere. It remains only to trust that things may be seen in truer perspective ere it is too late and that those in whose temporary charge it is may not cast recklessly away one of nature's most splendid assets, one, moreover, which once lightly discarded can never, by any possibility, be regained. At this point there is a map of Africa with the numbered preserves. The map is titled The Most Important Game Preserves of Africa. This quote from Animal Life in Africa page 24 is included. It is idle to say that the advance of civilization must necessarily mean the total disappearance of all wild animals. This is one of those glib fallacies which flows only too readily from unthinking lips. Civilization in its full sense, not the advent of a few scattered pioneers, of course, implies their restriction, especially as regards purely grass-feeding species within certain definite bounds, both as regards numbers and sanctuaries. But this is a very different thing from wholesale destruction that a few more or less deserving individuals may receive some small pecuniary benefit or gratify their taste for slaughter to the detriment of everyone else who may come after. The fauna of an empire is the property of that empire as a whole, and not of the small portion of it where the animals may happen to exist. And while full justice and encouragement must be given to the farmer and pioneer, neither should be permitted to entirely demolish for his own advantage resources which, strictly speaking, are not his own. Here follows a listing of the game preserves as they are notated on the map. African Game Preserves British East Africa 1. The Athai Plains Preserve This is situated between the Uganda Railway and the boundary of German East Africa. Its northern boundary is one mile north of the railway track. It is about 215 miles long east and west by 105 miles from north to south, and its area is about 13,000 square miles. It is truly a great preserve and worthy of the plains fauna that it is specially intended to perpetuate. 2. The Jubiland Preserve This preserve lies northwest of Mount Kenea. Its southwestern corner is near Lake Beringo. The Lycopia escarpment is its western boundary up to Mount Nyoro, and from that point its northern boundary runs 225 miles to Marsabit Lake. From that point the boundary runs south by west to the Guaso-Nyoro River, which forms the eastern half of the southern boundary. Its total area appears to be about 13,000 square miles. In addition to the two great preserves described above, the Government of British East Africa has established on the Uesin Yishu Plateau a centrally located sanctuary for Elans, Rhone, Antelopes, and Hippopotamia. There is also a small special rhinoceros preserve about 50 miles southeastward of Nairobi around Kyu Station on the railway. 3. Egyptian Sudan A great nameless sanctuary for wildlife exists on the eastern bank of the Nile, comprising the whole territory between the mainstream, the Blue Nile, and Abyssinia. Its length, north and south, is 215 miles, and its width is about 125 miles, which means a total area of about 26,875 square miles. Natives and others living within this sanctuary may hunt therein if they can procure licenses. Somaliland 4. The Hargeis reserve about 1,800 square miles. 5. The Mirso reserve about 300 square miles. Uganda 6. The Budanga Forest reserve. This small reserve embraces the whole eastern shore and hinterland of Lake Albert-Nianza and is shaped like a new moon. 7. Toro reserve. This small reserve lies between lakes Albert-Nianza and Albert-Edward-Nianza touching both. Niasaland, or the British Central Africa, protector it. A small territory but remarkably well stocked with game. 8. Elephant Marsh preserve. A small area in the extreme southern end of the protectorate, on both sides of the Shire River, chiefly for Buffalo. 9. Anganaland reserve. This was created especially to preserve about 1,000 elephants. It is 40 miles west of the southwestern arm of Lake Niasa. Transvaal 10. Sabi Singuitza-Fangola preserve. This great preserve occupies the whole region between the Drakenburg Mountains and the Labombo Hills. Its total area is about 10,500 square miles. It lies in a compact block about 210 miles long by 50 miles wide along the Portuguese border. 11. Rustenburg reserve. This is situated at the head of the Lumpopo River and covers about 3,500 square miles. Swaziland 12. The Swaziland reserve contains about 1,750 square miles and occupies the southwestern corner of Swaziland. 11. Rhodesia. 13. The Noueru Marsh Game Reserve is in northwestern Rhodesia, bordering the Congo Free State. The description of its local boundaries is quite unintelligible outside of Rhodesia. 12. Luangua reserve. The locality of this reserve cannot be determined from the official description, which gives no clue to its shape or size. Game Preserves in Australasia New Zealand Little Barrier Island in the north and Resolution Island in the south and concerning both details are lacking. Australia Kangaroo Island, near Adelaide, South Australia is 400 miles northwest of Melbourne. Of the total area of this rather large island of 300 square miles, 140 square miles have been set aside as a game preserve, chiefly for the preservation of the Mali bird, Lepoa Asalata. It is believed that eventually the whole island will become a wildlife sanctuary and it would seem that this cannot be consummated a day too soon for the vanishing wildlife. Wilson's Promontory Adelaide is a peninsula well suited to the preservation of wildlife, especially birds, and it is now a sanctuary. Many private bird refuges have been created in Australia. Tasmania Eleven bird refuges have been created with a total area of 26,000 acres, an excellent record for Tasmania. Fresenets Peninsula At present this wildlife sanctuary is not adequately protected from illicit hunting and trapping. But its full protection is now demanded and no doubt this soon will be provided by the government. I am informed that this offers a golden opportunity to secure a fine wildlife sanctuary at ridiculously small costs to the public. The whole world is interested in the preservation of the remarkable fauna of Tasmania. The extermination of the Phylacine would be a zoological calamity, but it is impending. End of Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Of Our Vanishing Wildlife This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sarah Jennings Our Vanishing Wildlife by William T. Hornaday Chapter 40 Breeding Game and Fur in Captivity Game Breeding The breeding of game and captivity for sale in the markets of the world is just as legitimate as the breeding of domestic species. This applies equally to mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes. It is the duty of the nation and state to foster such industries and facilitate the marketing of their products without any unnecessary formalities, delays, or losses to producers or to purchasers. Already, this principle has been established in several states. Without going into the records, it is safe to say that Colorado was the pioneer in the so-called more game movement about 1899. But there is one person who would like to have the world believe that it started in the state of New York about 1909. The idea is not quite as old as the hills, but the application of it in the United States dates back through a considerable vista of years. The laws of Colorado providing for the creation of private game preserves and marketing of their product under a tagging system are very elaborate, and they show a sincere desire to foster an industry as yet but slightly developed in this country. The laws of New York are much more simple and easy to understand than those of Colorado. There is one important principle now fully recognized in the New York laws for game breeding that other states will do well to adopt. It is the fact that certain kinds of wild game cannot be bred and reared in captivity on a commercial basis. And this being true, it is clearly against public policy to provide for the sale of any such species. Why provide for the sale of preserved bread, grouse, and ducks, which we know cannot be bred and reared in confinement and marketable? For example, if we may judge by the numerous experiments that thus far have been made, as we certainly have a right to do, no man can successfully breed and rear in captivity on a commercial basis. The canvas-backed duck, teal, pin-tailed duck, roughed grouse, or quail. This being the case, no amount of clamor from game dealers and their allies should ever induce any state legislature to provide for the sale of any of those species until it has been fully demonstrated that they have been and can be bred in captivity in large numbers. The moment the markets of a state are thrown open to those impossible species, from that moment the state game wardens must make a continuous struggle to prevent the importation and sale of those birds contrary to law. This proposition is so simple that every honest man can see it. All that any state legislature may rightfully be asked to do is to provide for the sale under tags, of those species which we know can be bred in captivity in large numbers. When the bane law was drafted, its authors considered with the utmost care the possibilities in the breeding of game in the United States on a commercial basis. It was found that as yet, only two wild native species have been and can be reared in captivity on a large scale. These are the white-tailed deer and mallard duck. Of foreign species we can breed successfully for market the fallow deer, red deer of Europe, and some of the pheasants of the old world. For the rearing, killing, and marketing of all these, the bane law provides the simplest processes of state supervision that the best game protectors and game breeders of New York could devise. The tagging system is expeditious, cheap, and effective. Practically the only real concession that is required of the game breeder concerns the killing, which must be done in a systematic way, whereby a state game warden can visit the breeder's premises and affix the tags without any serious sacrifice of time or convenience on either side. The tags cost the breeder five cents each, and they pay the cost of the services rendered by the state. By this admirable system, which is very plainly set forth in the New York Conservation Commission's Book of Game Laws, all the wild game of New York and of every other state is absolutely protected at all times against illegal killing and illegal importation for the New York Market. Now is it not the duty of Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, and every other state to return our compliment by passing similar laws? Massachusetts came up to public expectations at the next session of her legislature after the passage of our bane law. In 1913, California will try to secure a similar act, and we know full well that her ducks, geese, quail, grouse, and band-tailed pigeon need it very much. If the California protectors of wildlife succeed in arousing the great quiet mass of people in that state, their bane bill will be swept through their legislature on a tidal wave of popular sentiment. Elk For people who own wild woodlands, near large cities, there are good profits to be made in rearing white-tailed deer from the market. I would also mention elk, but for the fact that every man who rears a fine herd of elk quickly becomes so proud of the animals and so much attached to them that he cannot bear to have them shot and butchered for market. Elk are just as easy to breed and rear as domestic cattle, except that in the fall breeding season the fighting of rival bulls demands careful and intelligent management. Concerning the possibilities of feeding elk on hay at $25 per ton and declaring an annual profit, I am not informed. If the elk require to be fed all the year round, the high price of hay and grain might easily render it impossible to produce marketable three-year-old animals at a profit. White-tailed deer Anyone who owns from 100 to 1000 acres of wild, brushy or forest-covered land can raise white-tailed or Virginia deer at a profit. With smaller areas of land, free range becomes impossible and the prospects of commercial profits diminish and disappear. In any event, a fenced range is absolutely essential and the best fence is the page, 88 inches high, all horizontals of number 9 wire, top and bottom wires of number 7 and the perpendicular tie wires of number 12. This fence will hold deer, elk, bison and wild horses. In large enclosures the white-tailed deer is hardy and prolific and when fairly cooked its flesh is a great delicacy. In Vermont the average weights of the deer killed in that state in various years have been as follows. In 1902, 171 pounds. In 1903, 190 pounds. In 1905, 198 pounds. In 1906, 200 pounds. In 1907, 196 pounds. In 1908, 207 pounds. And in 1909, 155 pounds. The reason for the great drop in 1909 is yet to be ascertained. In 1910 in New York City the wholesale price of whole deer carcasses was from 22 to 25 cents per pound. Venison saddles were worth from 30 to 35 cents per pound. On the bill of fare of a first-class hotel a portion of venison costs from $1.50 to $2.50 according to the diner's location. It is probable that such prices as these will prevail only in the largest cities and therefore they must not be regarded as general. Live white-tailed deer can be purchased for breeding purposes at prices ranging from $25 to $35 each. A good eastern source of supply is Blue Mountain Forest, Mr. Austin Corbin President, Broadway and Courtland Street, New York. In the West, good stock can be procured from the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company through CVR Townsend, Nagoni Mission, whose preserve occupies the whole of Grand Island, Lake Superior. The Department of Agriculture has published for free distribution a pamphlet entitled Raising Deer and Other Large Game Animals in the United States by David E. Lance which contains much more valuable information although it leaves much unsaid. All breeders of deer are cautioned that during the fall and early winter months all adult white-tailed bucks are dangerous to man and should be treated accordingly. A measure of safety can be secured in a large park by compelling the deer always to keep at a respectful distance and making no pets whatever. Whenever a buck finds his horns and loses his fear of man climb the fence quickly. Bucks in the rutting season sometimes seem to go crazy and often they attack men wantonly and dangerously. The method of attack is to an unarmed man almost irresistible. The animal lowers his head, stiffens his neck, and with terrible force drives straight forward for your stomach and bowels. Usually there are eight sharp spears of bone to impale you. The best defense of an unarmed man is to seize the left antler with the left hand and with the right hand pull the deer's front right foot from under him. Merely holding to the horns makes great sport for the deer he loves that unequal combat. The great desire to rot him is to put his four legs out of commission and get him down on his knees. Does are sometimes dangerous and inflict serious damage by rising on their hind feet and viciously striking with their sharp front hoofs. These tendencies in American deer are mentioned here as a duty to persons who may desire to breed deer for profit. The Red Deer of Europe Anyone who has plenty of natural forest food for deer and a good market within fair range may find the European Red Deer a desirable species. It is of size smaller and more easily managed than the Wapiti and is more easily marketed because of its smaller size. As a species it is hardy and prolific and of course it's venison as as good as that of any other deer. Live specimens for stalking purposes can be purchased if S. A. Stephen agent for Carl Hegenbeck Cincinnati Zoological Gardens or of Wends and Mackensen Yardley, Pennsylvania at prices ranging from 60 to 100 dollars each according to size and age. At present the supply of specimens in this country on hand for sale is very small. The Fallow Deer This species is the most universal park deer of Europe. It seems to be invulnerable to neglect and misuse for it has persisted through countless generations of breeding and captivity and the abuse of all nations. In size it is a trifle smaller than our whitetail deer with spots in summer and horns that are widely flattened at the extremities in a very interesting way. It is very hardy and prolific but of course it cannot stand anything that could be put upon it. It needs a dry shed in winter, red clover hay and crushed oats for winter food and no deer should be kept in mud. As a commercial proposition it is not so meaty as the whitetail but it is less troublesome to keep. The adult males are not such vicious or dangerous fighters as whitetail bucks. Live specimens are worth from 50 to 75 dollars. The Essex County Park Commissioners Orange, New Jersey have had excellent success with this species. In 1906 they purchased 25 does and four bucks and placed them in an enclosure of 150 acres on a wooded mountain side. In 1912 they had 150 deer and were obliged to take measures for a disposal of the surplus. Mrs. Wends and McKenson keep an almost continuous supply of fallow deer on hand for sale. The Indian Sambar deer I have long advocated the introduction in the southern states wherever deer can be protected of this great hulking animated venison factory. While I have not delved deeply into the subject of weight and growth I feel sure from casual observations of the growth of about 25 animals that this species produces more venison during the first two years of its life than any other deer with which I am acquainted. I regarded as the greatest venison producer of the whole deer family and I know that is a large order. The size of a yearling is almost absurd. It is so great for an animal of tender years. When adult the species is for its height very large and heavy. As a food producing animal located in the southern hill forests and taking care of itself there is millions in it but it must be kept under fence for in no southern or northern state would any such mass of juicy wild meat long people permitted to roam at large unkilled. Through this species I believe that a million acres of southern timber lands now useless except for timber growth could be made very productive in choice venison. The price would be a good fence and protection from poachers. The Indian sambar deer looks like a shortlegged big bodied understudy of our American elk. It breeds well in captivity and it is of quiet and tractable disposition. It cannot live in a country where the temperature goes down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and remains there for long periods. It would I am firmly convinced to do well all along the gulf coast and if acclimatized along the gulf with the lapse of time and generations it would become more and more hearty, grow more hair and push its way northward until it reached the latitude of Tennessee. But then in a wild state it could not be protected from poachers. As stated elsewhere Dr. Ray V. Pierce has successfully acclimatized and bred this species in his St. Vincent Island game preserve near Apalachicola, Florida. More than that the species has crossed with the white-tailed deer of the island. Living specimens of the Indian sambar deer are worth from 125 to 250 dollars according to size and other conditions. Just at present it seems difficult for Americans to procure a sufficient number of males. We have had very bad luck with several males that we attempted to import for breeding purposes. The Mallard Duck A great many persons have made persistent attempts to breed the canvas back Redhead, Mallard, Black Duck, Pintail, Teal and other species on a commercial basis. So far as I am aware the Mallard is the only wild duck that has been bred in sufficient numbers to slaughter for the markets. The Wood Duck and Mandarin can be bred in fair numbers but only sufficient to supply the demand for living birds for park purposes. One would naturally suppose that a species as closely allied to the Mallard as the Black Duck is known to be would breed like the Mallard. But the Black Duck is so timid and nervous about nesting as to be almost worthless in captivity. All the species named above except the Mallard must at present and in general be regarded as failures in breeding for the market. Of all American ducks the common Mallard is the most persistent and successful breeder. It quickly becomes accustomed to captivity. It enjoys park life and when given even half a chance it will breed and rear its young. Unquestionably the Mallard Duck can be reared in captivity and numbers limited only by the extent of breeders facilities. The amount of net profit that can be realized depends wholly upon the business acumen and judgment displayed in the management of the flock. The total amount of knowledge necessary to success is not so very great but at the same time the exercise of a fair amount of intelligence and also careful diligence is absolutely necessary. Naturally the care and food of the flock must not cost extravagantly or the profits will inevitably disappear. As a contribution to the cause of game breeding for the market and the creation of a new industry of value Mr. L.S. Crandall and the author wrote for the New York State Conservation Commission a pamphlet on breeding Mallard ducks for market. Copies of it can be procured of our state conservation commission at Albany by enclosing 10 cents in stamps. Breeding fur-bearing animals When hundreds of persons wrote to me asking for literature on the breeding of fur-bearing animals for profit for 10 years I was compelled to tell them that there was no such literature. During the past three years a few offerings have been made and I lose not a moment in listing them here. Life histories of Northern animals by Ernest T. Seaton Charles Scribsner's sons two volumes $18 contains carefully written and valuable chapters on fox farming skunk farming martin farming and mink farming and other valuable life histories of the fur-bearing animals of North America. Rod and Gun in Canada a magazine for sportsmen published by W. J. Taylor Woodstock, Ontario contained in 1912 a series of articles on the culture of black and silver foxes by R. B. and L. V. Croft. Country Life in America has published a number of illustrated articles on fox and skunk farming. With its usual enterprise and forethought the biological survey of the Department of Agriculture has published a valuable pamphlet of 22 pages on silver fox farming by W. H. Osgood copies of which can be procured by addressing the Secretary of Agriculture. In consulting that contribution however it must be borne in mind that just now in fox farming history is being made more rapidly than here to fore. I do not mean to say that the above are the only sources of information on fur farming for profit but they are the ones that have most impressed me. The files of all the journals and magazines for sportsmen contain numerous articles on this subject and they should be carefully consulted. Black Fox Farming The ridiculous prices now being paid in London for the skins of black or silver foxes has created in this country a small furor over the breeding of that colour phase of the red fox. The prices that actually have been obtained both for skins and for live animals for breeding purposes have a strong tendency to make people crazy fancy paying $12,000 in real money for one pair of live black foxes. That has been done on Prince Edward Island and $10,000 per pair is now regarded as a bargain counter figure. On Prince Edward Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Black Fox breeding has been going on for 10 years and is now on a successful basis. One man has made a fortune in the business and it is rumoured that a stock company is considering the purchase of his 10 acre fox ranch at a fabulous figure. The enormous prices obtainable for live black foxes male or female make diamonds and rubies seem cheap and commonplace and it is no wonder that enterprising men are tempted to enter that industry. The price of a black fox is one of the wonders of a recklessly extravagant and whimsical age. All the furwearing world knows very well that fox fur is one of the poorest of furs to withstand the wear and tear of actual use. About two seasons hardware are enough to put the best fox skin on the wane and three or four can be guaranteed to throw it into the discard. Even the finest black fox skin is nothing superlatively beautiful. A choice cross for fox skin costing only $50 is far more beautiful as a colour proposition but London joyously pays $2,500 or $3,000 for a single black fox skin to wear. Of course all such fads as this are as ephemeral as the butterflies of summer. The Russo-Japanese War quickly reduced the value of Alaskan blue foxes from $30 to $18 and away went all the Alaskan fox farms. A similar twist of fortune's fickle wheel may in any year send the black fox out of royal favour and remove the bottom from the business of producing it. Let us hope however that the craze for that fur will continue for we like to see our friends and neighbours make good profits. Pheasant rearing This subject is so well understood by game-breeders and there is already so much good literature available regarding it. It is not necessary that I should take it up here. End of Chapter 40