The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
PLANS FOR A GAME FIELD.
scheme to Sc, Ap!.rt a,Huge sports
mems PreserTe.

| mems PreserTe.
| (From the san Franciscnrl { hfoniele-l
The establishment of a great game pre-
| serve embracing a portion of southwest
ern Arizona and Northwestern Mexico,
and probably small part of California.
| Is a PROJECT which was not conceived until
recently, but which will likely be talked
| about by sportmen alk ovss the country
within few months A small party Of
I explorers recently Ysitedl Tucson after
making trip through the country adja-
! cent to the head of the Gulf of California
representing, it is believed a number of
sportsmen of the Middle States, bent on
formulating plan for the protection OF
| game and to prevent the determination OF
certain species. A convention of sports
| men viii soon meet in Chicago or Denver
to consider plans for the establishment of
| great game preserve, and representative
spoftsmen from all sections report the
advantages offered for game preserves in
! their immediate sections
That portion OF the country south OF
| una. including small section of Cali
! iorniG and considerable territory in Mex
leo is one OF the most fruitful fields for
| the Nimrods of this country today. 1t
abounds in wild game of all sorts. and with
| the help Of man large expanse of land
| could be converted into one of the greatest
|
world. Mexico offers liberal aid to such
enterprises. and it is understood that al
| ready that Government has promised to
make important concessions If American
sportsmen are willing to carry out the plan
OF establishing game preserve lying
partly in Mexico.
The determination of wild game in this
country and the urgent necessity of adopt
ing drastic measures for the prevention of
further sinh
Jects which have long occupied the atten-
ton OF American sportsmen. Never be-
fore have they been so stirred up to the
necessity as within the past few months,
when from all over the country there have
been demands for Congressional action.
State and Territorial legislation has proved
insufficient, but Federal action in recent
years has checked wholesale slaughter in
this and other Territories and States How
ever, slowly hut surely certain kinds OF
wild game such as deer and antelope will
be extinct in Arizona within few years.
and IN shorter time the mountain sheep
now found in few parts Of this Territory
will disappear unless early action is taken.
1t is because of the threatened extermlna-
ton that Congress will soon be asked to
make an appropriation for creating a game
preserve. or at least for it's moral support.
.he redskins Of Arizona have made
great inroads into the ranks of deer and
antelope, leaving their reservations fire.
quently to engage in systematic slaugh
tiers of those animals. The Apaches in
eastern Arizona kill only the game they
require for meat and leather. 1t is said
that the Navajos of northern Arizona and
other Indians OF this territory do not kill
game on the wholesale plan merely for the
sport, as is commonly believed, but they
seem to require an inordinate amount for
ordinary use. Occasionally they leave
their reservations where long ago game
became too sporadic to invite the hunter
and organize bands which go after big
game with guns and bows and arrows in
much the same manner that Americans
organize rabbit drives Great piles of
hair scraped from the hides speak unmis-
takab bly, of the slaughter which attends
one of these expeditions.
4 party consisting of Prof W ] MCGEE,
Delaney Gill, an artist and Others repre-
senting the Smithsonian Institution, re-
Gently passed through Phoenix after ex-
ploring the Tiburon Island. IN the Gulf of
California returning from Sonora by an
old road near Tenajos Atlas. The party
went to examine the condition of the can
nibalistic Ceris Indians Of Tiburon Island.
who murdered r. E. Hutchinson. a news
paper man, and companion ak years
ago and Toasted on their, bodies. On ac
count of the tribal frieiien a few years
ago a small hand of these, savages- left
the island OF Tiburon and made their
way to the coast of Mexico, subsequently
travelling north and establishing a small
colony near Quitoyac-
The Smithsonian party went among the
Indians at that place for the third time
finding them in the same condition on
each trip. They have not multiplied in
numbers in the past score of years and
their manners of living and habits have
not varied In visiting those Indians Nc
Gees journey took him through the heart
of the game country. which in time may
be set apart as preserve. All along his
path he discovered game in such profu-
sion that he made a part of his trip the
study of the wild animals of that region
The Indians near Quitovac led him into
some remarkable hunting grounds, where
deer and wild hogs. large species of pee
cary, tame and unfamiliar with the white
sportsman's methods, were but little in
Inundated by the approach of the party
The professor returns enthusiastic oven
the game conditions of that region. Wild
animals abound there as they did only a
few years ago in many parts of this coun-
try but although the region is not remote
from thickly populated sections, it has
been almost entirely neglected by hunt
ers, untouched by the hand of white man
and its isolation from the haunts of men
would be complete but for the presence
Of a handful OF redskins VINO roam over
that section. The country is so formed.
said Prof. Niece, that some of the lands
could be irrigated by water from the Col
orado River, making of them even more
alluring stamping ground for wild game.