The Portland daily press., 1895-04-27

|
laws of protection. Failing to accomplish
any good resulted as much from our orm
of government, as any thing.
! There may be very few bu faloes yet in a
wild state, but the nearer the species ap-
proach complete determination the more
eagerly are the lonely fugtives pursued to
death. The largest number now known to
exist is the small herd protected in the yell
lowstone Park, possibly 400 in number and
there may be as many more scattered over
the immense ranges in very small punches
and hidden in most inaccessible pla ces.
There are quit u number of domesticated
herds. of which hat of Mr.. Charles Allard.
of Montana. contains about $50. A buffalo
hide is now valued at n sum approaching
500 and the mounted head of a bull.
perhaps several hundred dollars.
Quite a number of SUCCESSFUL experiments
have been made crossing the buffalo
with our common cattle.
These cross breeds yield fine quality
of beef and a valuable Iobe. The first at
tompts this cross breeding was made at
Lexington, kentucky. as long since as 1916.
Cur domestic cattle secumb By the thou
and to the winter blizzard of the highnorth
western plains. the former feeding ground
VI tbo AsiSOu IL DelHS lIHpOaslDlS
to protect their cattle from the terrible cold
or supply forage in the needed quantity.
Usually the wind sweeps the snow from the
tops of the ridges, leaving the natural hay
exposed and within reach of the cattle but
when the snow is deep and unusual the
steers cannot paw through it as do the
buffalo and and consequently starve. And
IN the blizzard. domestic cattle turning
back 10 the wind and drift before the
gale. are scattered and lost. But the buffa-
loes ''bunch" together facing the wind in
form of wedges, the Well protected heias
of the Oldest bull at the uIex. The weaker
animals COWS and calves) taking place in
| the center of the mass, pass through the
most severe storm unscattered. But the
steer without the protection of the shaggy
| from, or the instinct to bunch and face
the gale cannot survive such condition,
starving and freezing in immense numbers
The low hung head and short legs of the
baffalo also peculiarly ut him for paving"
through the icy covering of his favorite
buffalo grass.
Ali the eross-breed animals retain much
of the instinct of their wild progenitros and
thus admirably adapted TO occupy the
vast plains now desolate by the
ruthless slaughter of their wild
ancestors. The progeny Of the buffalo
is the easily reared, cheaply fed, reQuir-
ing no shelter in winter and is quite Pro-
lifc-four essential points in stock raising.
These qualities seem to be the sole legacies
the wild buffalo LAS left to the future.
We still have his deeply indented trails
along the lines of migration the "Wallow
hole and his whitening bones will remain
somewhat longer. silent reproach to the
barbarism of civilization. That much could
have been done. by judicious legislator TO
preserve their noble herds for many years
to come, at least until the imperative needs
of an agricultural population demanded the
Wilderness they occupied is in evidence by
tie great success which has attended tho
efforts to save the game animals of this
state.
1t is my great9prid to believe the Maine
Laws protecting orr larger animals from
t he pot-hunters and his brutal methods,
the most judiciously framed and possibly
the best enforced of there of any state in
the Union. Although any one who may
visit the deer ranges, even now, will have
| constantly forced upon his attention many
and gross violations of the laws and to
such an extent. the wonder is that our
moose, caribou and deer are not numbered
with the buffalo. But nature is wonder
fully kind master and with half a Glance
our large game have greatly increased.
Some IS years ago | spent season in the
deer ranges of Eastern Maine, from the
Tunk hills to the st. Croix. and again,
three summer since. was five months in
the same region. From personal observation
and conversation with local hunters. should
estima tie there are now ten deer ranging
the forests, when there one, in 1860.
So much for good laws-would the power
30 inforce them. to the letters. also exist ed.
Then the Maine forests would afford the
honorable sportsman t1e finest hunting
field in the United States.
4 fewyears since was at duty at the New
Orleans Exposition, and in the government
building, each state had a space allotted
10 display characte ristic exhibit. Mon
tana's display OF its animals was most cred
ilab BILE and interesting. An earthern mound
Vas built and covered with grass and shrub
berry and upon luis the mounted animals were
arranged in most natural attitudes, With
the Montana commission, we all had fire.
quent conversation upon the subject OF this
paper, and all lamented the great ard wan
ton slaughter then taking place. With par
donable pride l could then tell the west
ern gentlemen of the care this state was
talking of its game, and of the large
amount OF money left every year within its
borders by spol tsmen. Would any one, then
have ventured the predic'io ion that in 1894
| that some would have reached S.. 600, 600?
| The adequate protection and preserva-
| ton of the buffalo was merely a question
of money. 1t is absurd TO say the United
States could not save them. small lax on
the robe sent in would lave produced the
| necessary amount 10 pay 10, efficient meu
on all the ranges and stopped the whole
sale slaughter. That a few roles would have
gotten TO market Gland estinely no one
doubts. but the large and expensive outfits
required would have deferred most all law
| breakers from exposing much property
TO seizure and condemnation.
The des 'ruction of these animals is loss
of wealth to this country many times great
er than the cost to protecs them. Under
proper restriction laws the buffalo who
would have paid revenue equal 20 OF the
Alaska seal. But in spite OF all interests
/ thlS stupenQOuS waste of food and other