Evening star., 1898-10-24
YELLOWSTONE PARK
Fish and Game in the Great National
Preserve.
NOT ITS EQUAL IN THE WORLD
Claimed to Be Deserving an In
creased Fund.
RESORT FOR THE TOURIST
NOT ITS EQUAL IN THE WORLD
RESORT FOR THE TOURIST

fiscal year considerable space is given to a
discussion of the fish and game in the
park. 1t says, among other things:
Forest Reserves.
Bordering on the eastern and southern
limits of the park are two forest reserves,
both of which have been recommended by
my predecessor to be brought within the
park boundaries and made part thereof.
1t will be remembered that these tracts of
land were set aside and established
public reservation by proclamation of the
President made on March 80 and Septem-
ber TO- 1891, and though not coming within
the provisions of the act of Congress ap-
proved May I, 1854. are yet under the juris-
dicton and control of the acting superin-
tendent and the military force in the park
for the enforcement of the law setting
them aside especially relating to the
preservation of the game. To thoroughly
determine the character of the forest
serve on the east, the settlers therein
game. etc, Lieut.. Lindsey 4th Cavalry
was sent to investigate the same. and on
his return submitted a report, which will
be found In the appendix QT). 1t will be
seen that there are many settlers in it,
some in violation of law, and that q few
mining claims are being worked.
The country does not seem to be the
habitat of any large quantity of game. The
forest reserve the south contains no
settlers. Is of no mineral value, and is un-
questionaby a game country. / would for
these reasons, therefore, urge that the
forest reserve on the south be made a part
of the park, and the forest reserve on the
east be not further considered with this
end in view. 1t is probable that whatever
opposition has hitherto been encountered in
taking in both of these reserves as part of
the park would cease, when 1t is proposed
to take In only that one on the south which
possesses only the advantage of being a
great game country, and has no mineral
or agricultural advantage to settlers. l
would also recommend that the necessary
legislation be enacted, bringing the forest
reserves bordering the park under the pro-
vision of the national park protective act,
approved May I, 1894, to preserve and pro-
tect the game. AS is set forth in the
lice of the department, which has been
placed in conspicuous places in and about
the park all persons are warned not to
hunt nor kill game thereon and the pen
atty for doing this is election from the re-
serve, prosecution for trespass and the
hcldinS of such persons pecuniarily respon-
sible for any waste damage whether
done Intentionally caused by neglect.
Such is the extent of the punishment and
in its present mild form does not form a
sufficient safeguard for the protection of
the reserve and its game"
Animals In the Park
Antelope yet numerous The snow
drives them from the mountains and high
plateaus, their feeding and breeding ground
in spring and summer, to the lower alti-
tudes outside of the park, where many are
killed.
Bear are plentiful. and have proved de-
structive to the stores of the detachments
on station, lunch stations and campers. If
they continue to increase in the future as
in the past, some means will have to be
taken to rid the park Of the yearly in
crease. They are numerous at the garbage
piles of the hotels, and objects of much
interest and enjoyment to the tourists.
There are probably fifty buffalo yet in
the park. They are not increasing. This
is about the only wild herd in the United
States, and steps should be taken to pre-
vent the determination of this herd from
the evils of inbreeding by the purchase of
few good bulls. Full and ample protec-
tfon is given these animals, and it Is be-
lieved that with new stock introduced into
the herd an increase would follow.
Coyotes are very numerous in certain sec
tions. They do some damage to the young
elk, but the young deer and antelope are
their particular prey. Efforts are made in
winter to keep their number down by poi
sOning carcasses of dead animals. and to
a certain extent 1t has been successful
Deer are numerous and on the increase,
and the protection afforded them has done
much to make them very tame. They are
frequently seen by tourists along the usual
ly Travelled route.
Elk are numerous and are increasing.
The park is their breeding place in spring
and feeding ground in winter. Immense
herds can be seen in nearly any direction
in winter and in certain localities in sum-
ner.
Beaver are more plentiful than ever be-
fore, and their locations in the various
streams in the park are carefully watched
and protected. Numerous new dams have
been constructed. Otter fairly abun-
dant. Martens plentiful and widely
distributed, as are also the Canadian lynx,
wildcat and mink. Foxes are In goodly
number. the black and red being frequently
seen, and some timber foxes being report
a6 ak halc
great many muSkrats, ground hogs, sQuir-
rels, chipmunks. skunks porcupines and
rabbits. OF the latter there are the cotton
tails, a few jackrabbts, many snowshoe
rabbits, and the paca, the tiny rock rabbit
All these animals are increasing yearly.
Moose are quite numerous in the south
and southwestern portions of the park and
forest reserve, and are apparently increas-
ing.
Sheep are in considerable numbers in va
rtous sections of the park; especially are
they conspicuous in winter. when they
leave the higher peaks and seek some
what lower level to feed, and later on to
breed.
Wolverines, while not plentiful, are dis
tributed over a large Of the park.
Pelicans, geese. ducks, gulls, cranes,
swans. ospreys. hawks. eagles, grouse, Jays
of all kinds, water ousel, robins. kingfish-
ors and various other small birds abound
In the park The aquatic birds nest and re-
main until late in the fall, and, it is prob
able. during the winter in streams and
lakes Where the not springs prevent entire
freezing of the water
Protection of the Park.
At the opening Of the winter there was
but balance of s66O1 remaining on hand
for protection and Improvement Using
this until exhausted, and relying upon the
untiring efforts and conscientious work Of
Lieut.. Lindsey, soldiers and a volunteer
scout, the protection of the park was as
efficiently performed, If not to a greater ex-
tent, than in former years. The theory
adopted was to ascertain the location of all
persons who in past years have been guilty
or thought guilty of poaching, and never
let them get beyond the surveillance of the
park authorities. This was successfully
done in many cases, and resulted in the
capture and trial of some of them by the
United States commissioner and with the
assistance of the state authorities by the
| civil courts, thus deterring others from at
| tempting to poach. Unless actually taking
| part in the winter work here, the hard
| ships are inconceivable.
The department supplied sleeping bags
| which are of incalculable comfort; and be.
II