The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-10
Well. Why MOTT

The large game OF the far West, already
confined to a comparatively narrow region,
will before long actually become extinct. UNI
less more efficient measures for its protec-
ton are taken than any which we have yet
tried. Buffaloes will be unknown to our
grandchildren except in pictures or in ma
tural history museums. The elk, one OF the
grandest animals running wild within our
domain, will be as scarce west OF the Mis-
souri, River as the deer Is now on Long
Island. The mountain sheep, antelope, and
deer, which were once 80 multtudnous, and
are still numerous, will have passed away in
another generation, or be only preserved as
game now Is in European countries.
The destruction which is so surely tending
to this extinction Of large game is chiefly
wanton, or is the result Of the greed Of skin
hunters. who abound in the region traversed
and inhabited by the animals. Native and
foreign sportsmen, as they call themselves,
bring down far moreTgame than they have
need of. They pop away at the bufalocs,
elk, mountain sheep. and deer merely to have
large tales to tell Of their prowess when they
return home. great part of the meat so
obtained goes to waste. 1t is not wanted by
the reckless sportsmen, and it reaches no
market for consumption.
The slaughter by the skin hunters is even
more extensive. They are after the pelts
alone, and the statistics OF the number OF
those received at the posts near the grounds
freQuented by the game, show that the hun
ters are pursuing their business Of destruc-
ton with increasing enterprise. The work
is a hard one, and offers profits to the hun
ter which frequently scarcely exceed the
average wages Of n day laborer; but it has
destinations which seem to be irresistible and
is the settled employment of q large class Of
men who have almost relapsed into savag-
ism. They are stimulated too, by the spccu-
lators in the results Of their vigilant enter
prise. Whenever the skins go up in price,
they redouble their efforts; and of course, in
the long run, the scarcer the game becomes
the more they get for skins.
Between them and the wan ton sportsmen,
therefore, the large game, which Is one OF the
glories Of the far West, has q sharp strug-
gle for existence. Besides, as civilization
pushes forward its outposts, the wild ami
mails are steadily driven into smaller and
smaller field, and there subjected to increased
dangers OF extinction.
| According to the report of Gen. SHERIDAN
on his expedition TO the Yellowstone region
| last August it seems that even the Yellow
stone or National Park is not safe place of
refuge for the hunted game. "On arriving
at the railroad" says Gen. SHERIDAN. Il re-
| GREETED exceedingly to learn that the National
| Park had been rented out to private parties"
These men have hired 1t for money-making
purposes, and one Of the chief of these pur-
poses is the killing OF the large game which
| nj, 10 ri vim into hn Dn
thoroughly they are doing that work we can
| Judge from Gen. SHERIDAN's declaration,
based on credible information, that as many
as four thousand elk were killed by skin
hunters in one winter, and even last winter,
In and around the edges OF the Park, there
were as many as two thousand OF these grand
animals killed. to say nothing of the noun
tain sheep, antelope, deer, and other game,
slaughtered in great numbers"
One OF the very obvious advantages of re-
serving the Yellowstone Park was that it
would afford place Of protection for this
game, driven away from regions to which it
had been accustomed, because Of the cease
less and increasing pursuit OF hunters for
sport or pecuniary profit. 1t is now NOV
ing in that direction and ultimately would
| be gathered in the Park in vast quantity If
that reservation was really kept as place of
refuge where it could find protection from
its pursuers andits prosecutors. This year
noticed, adds Gen. SHERIDAN" that buifaloes
were on the edge of the Park, and the elk,
| deer antelope, and bg-horn sheep from the
| Big Horn Mountains are all drifting to the
section which would be included in the Ma
tional Park if it were extended as | recon-
mend" Therein he refers to suggestion he
had previously made that the Government
extend the Park due east about forty miles,
AT the same time placing its southern boun-
Diary at the 44th parallel Of latitude, which
would be due south ten miles. This would
increase tho area OF the Park by 1914 square
miles But the additions, Gen, SHERIDAN
declares, would take nothing away from the
people that they would miss, for the territory
described lean never be settled upon. 1t is
rough, mountain country, with an altitude