, 1888-02-23
THE BUFFALO QUESTION.
A Solution Which Should BE Adopted at
OMEGA Manitoba Herd.

A Solution which Should BE Adopted at
OMEGA Manitoba Herd.
There is no question in Taxidermist
Richardson's opinion that the buffalo is
now well nigh extinct on the plains.
There are n few in Yellowstone park pro-
tected by h government, but they are
likely to be killed at any time. In Texas
n herd of about thirty is owned by one
ranchman; several other small punches
may be found, but the days when they
rambled at large over the country have
been numbered. Unless some means of
protecting them is adopted within ten
years the American bison must become
an extinct species. In Central park Di-
rector Conklin has several specimens of
buffalo, but the COW is growing old and
another one has not been secured. The
buffalo will not breed in captivity unless,
like other domestic animals, it has abun-
dant oom for feeding and exercise. In
Central park the animals are confined in
narrow stalls because the space at the
disposal of the manager is SO cramped.
There is n practical solution of the buff
falo question, Mr.. Richardson thinks,
which, if adopted at once, may prevent
h extinction of the animal. The buff
faloes are easily domesticated, and if ac-
customed from birth to domestic sur
roundings, they become quite as easy to
control as ordinary domestic cattle. In
the northwest, where the winters are
long and the thermometer sinks below
zero at the slightest provocation, buffalo
subsist without any discomfort, while the
winters there are generally fatal to
domestic cattle unless housed and looked
after with the greatest care.
I'm Manitoba, " said Mr.. Richardson,
'there is a herd of about fifty buffaloes
owned by S. l.. Bedson. Ernest E.
Thompson, who is assisting me in the
museum, has written an interesting ac-
count of them in n recent pamphlet on
the Mammals of Manitoba A portion
of this herd are half breeds, crossed with
common cattle, another portion are three
quarters bred, and the rest are pure
blood. 1t may be = question whether
the pure breed will continue itself, but it
certainly could he maintained if looked
after. This herd has developed from
five buffalo calves, brought by some In
dams from Winnipeg iii 1878. 1t re-
quires no care beyond what is necessary
to keep the different animals from wan
dering or being stolen or shot. The buff
falocs are as hardy as in their wild state.
Mr.. Thompson saw them late in Janu-
airy last year, when they were able to dig
down in the snow and find grass enough
to keep them fat. During a blizzard
they would lie down in n group, with
their backs to the wind, and let the snow
drift over them. The snow and their
woolly coats kept them perfectly com
Portable. In january, 1891, of the
cows Calved in the open prairie, where
the thermometer registered SO degs. be-
low zero, and both cowand calf survived
and liz not appear to suffer.
ut seems to me that this is an import
ant question for the farmers of the north
west, and tho national government ought
TO take measures for the encouragement
of the raising of buffalo stock. An ordi-
nary cowhide is worth 81. but it is use
less as a robe, while an average buffalo
hide is worth $40 and, as a robe, is al
most indispensable in the northern eli
mate. The buffalo sheds its woolly hair
once a year. This wool is easily gath
cred, and it works up well INTO q coarse
yarn. One animal will yield ten to
twelve pounds of raw wool. At one
time there were factories for the manu-
facture Of buffalo wool, but they have
disappeared with the buffalo. The wool
of the hybrid animal becomes darker and
finer, and the buffalo hump disappears in
the mixed breed. The animal itself be-
comes more dOcilc, though retaining its
hardihood, and is n better mixer than
the pure buffalo. This cross breeding
affords n wide opportunity for stock
raisers. "-New York Tribune.