The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13

great havoc wrought among certain varie-
ties OF American game by the indiscrimi-
nate huntsman. He said:
.Terrapin was once so plentiful in Mary
land that a law was passed prohibiting
masters from feeding their slaves on this
succulent reptile more than twice week.
I'm Connecticut the avaricious master
fed his apprentices so freely on salmon
that a law was passed forbidding too
much of a fish diet for those unfortunate
boys. Now, with terrapin worth s. apiece
and salmon at 80 cents pound, there is
no danger of the excessive use of these
articles of diet, unless it be among the
miilionares. And so it is with all our
other natural resources. At Delphi nat
ural gas was worshiped by the Greeks
2.3o0 years ago. Now it is harnessed and
set TO work in the gas fields of the United
States, but a reckless disregard for its
preservation has been shown in every
field. and it is only a question of a COM
paratively short time until the gas and
the coal oil will take their places in his
tory along with the buffalo. the wild
pigeon. the terrapin. and the salmon.
The welfare and propagation of birds
and beasts appeal TO the sportsihen who
have prosecuted them in the past and
have not appealed in vain. Every true
sportsman outgrows a mania for indis
criminate slaughter. plead guilty to
having in my youth taken part in the
brutal pastime known as the side hunt,
where two parties start out in the
morseless competition of destroying
much animal life possible. 4 rabbit
counting so many points, prairie chicken
SO many, bluejay, blackbird. crow. and
other birds all being scheduled at given
number of points. A hunt like this at the
evening roundup shows a sickening ag-
gregation of unnecessary and unsports-
{ manlike slaughter. The sportsman who
would enforce the laws must obey them
himself and set proper example to the
rising generation.
Decrease of the Buffalo.
I'm 1870 / crossed the plains when the
buffalo could be counted by the thousands.
Today l estimate the number of living
buffaloes at 400. Prof. w. T. Hornaday
told me that his estimate was 600. and /
would not, for moment. offer my judg
ment in contradiction to such eminent
authority on this question. Thirty years
ago, difference of 200 in the estimate of
the number of living buffaloes would have
been too small matter for consideration.
as that would only be about enough to
occupy some industrious and enterprising
there are nearlyas many millionaires in this
city New York; as there are buffalOes in
the whole world. The natural suggestion
! is that We are getting long on millionaires
and short on buffaloes.
THE humiliation OF the noblest of the
American mammals is one OF the crimes
of the nineteenth century. 1t took mil
| lions of years to evolve and produce this
splendid animal He was especially adapted
/ to hard life on the arid plains of the West.
The cattle of the present day turn their
tails to the wind and drift hopelessly and
4 helplessly with the course of the blizzard.
/ The buffalo turned his head to the storm
and fought it out with nature, triumph
/ ing over the wind and cold for ages,
/ finally succumbing only to the breechloader-
! and the butcher knife of the skin hunter
/ of the latter end of the nineteenth CEN
! tury.'
| One of the chief objects which the
| league has set itself TO attain is the pro-
! lection of insectirorous and song birds
! from the wiles of the milliners' agents.
| The feathers of the gull and kindred
species being this year especially fashiona-
bic. these valuable birds have been. in
the opinion of the league. Offered upon
| the altar OF mammon,'' and one of the
provisions Of Mr.. Lacey's bill. already
mentioned, is designed for their protec-
| ton.
The purposes of the league have met
the highest legislative and scientific au-
| thorities. and it is believed that sports
men will soon come to recognize the fact
that their first duty In their own interest
| is to preserve the game supply from an
| utilization