The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-17
TO SAVE ANTELOPE.
PLAN FOR GAME PRESERVE IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
like Those OF Yosemite and Yellow
stone Valleys to Be Conducted
and Controlled by the Gov
eminent.

None among the game animals of the
continent is more attractive to the
average of mankind than the antelope.
Time was, and not long ago, when
herds of these beautiful creatures
roamed at large over the western
plains. But OF late there has been a
notable decrease in the numbers Of
the herds. Like the buffalo, il is fac,
disappearing. But 1t seems likely,
says the Chicago Chronicle, that this
keen-sighted. wariest and tieetest of all
American horned game will be seen
again in its old-time haunts on the
eastern slopes OF the mountains OF
southern California and on the con-
uguous strips OF desert. Years ago
these beautiful animals, with their odd
markings Of brown and gray, were the
most conspicuous feature of desert life
in this section. but with the settling up
of the adjacent territory they were
rapidly killed or driven south until to-
day probably not half dozen bat
tered, SCARED, lone and mateless old
veterans are left in the whole great
plain between the desert divide and the
Colorado river. Even up to the early
SOS they are said TO have been as
plentiful there as on the plains of
New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana.
As they have been quite as much
hunted in these districts as in south
ern California, and are holding their
own in spite OF the fact, 1t would seem
as II their practical extinction in the
latter section is due to some other
agency than that Of man-probably the
drying up OF many OF the old desert
water holes.
The recent succession of wet years
in the southwest has called back to
life nearly all of the old springs in tho
desert and on the eastern sides, and it
has been decided to restock this sec
ton with a drove of from az to 100
antelope. These will be brought from
the northwest, probably from the big
herd in the Yellowstone national park,
in Wyoming. The latter herd now num-
bers nearly a thousand, and recently,
since the rigid enforcement of the
game laws by the federal authorities,
has increased at rapid rate, and it
is not believed that this increase will
be materially checked by the removal
of hundred or more animals to Cali
fornia.
The first step in the contamination
of this plan will be taken shortly oy
the biological survey of the United
States department of agriculture. where
the lines will be run for the bound
aries OF a game preserve, to be con-
Quoted and controlled by the govern
ment after the manner OF those already
existing, and about the Yosemite and
the Yellowstone. The boundaries of
this preserve will coincide with those
of the now existing forest reserva-
lions of Zaca lake, San Jacinto and
Trabuca, with a large strip OF desert
added. in which the antelope will also
be protected. Inside these boundaries
guns will be absolutely forbidden, and
1t will be a penitentiary offense to kill
game: ontside the hunter will be gov
erned by the state game laws, as en-
forced in other sections How this re-
serve will be patrolled and the protec-
tion accomplished has not been def
nitely decided. At first, however, it
is likely that the number of forest
rangers will be increased and each
given the double duty of game warden
and forester. In time. If the game in
creases sufficiently TO warrant 1t,
company of cavalry will be detailed for
duty. as in the other national parks.