The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-08-28

vania; southwark 1t reached the
southern Alleghenies, northern Texas,
southern New Mexico and Arizona;
and westward the Pacific ocean.
With few exceptions the early at
tempts to domesticate the elk were
made by men who were wealthy
enough to disregard all thought of
profit in raising them. They were
usually placed under the care of serv-
ants, and the bucks were left un-
castrated until they became old and
unmanageable. Soon the serious prob
lem of controlling them outweighed
the novelty of their possession, and
one by one the attempts at domestica-
ton were abandoned.
A desire to preserve this important
attempts to breed it in confinement,
and at present there are small herds
under private ownership in many
places in the United States. The bio
logical survey has recently obtained
much information from owners of
herds in regard to their experience in
breeding and rearing the animals, and
also their opinions as to the posi-
bility of making the business of rails
ing them profitable. Of about a
dozen successful breeders, nearly all
are of the opinion that raising elk
for market can be made remunerative
if present laws as to the sale Of the
meat are modified.
One especially important fact has
been developed by the reports from
breeders. 1t is that the elk readily
adapts itself to almost any environ
ment. Even within the narrow con-
fines of the paddocks of the ordinary
geological park the animal does well
and increases so that periodically the
herds have been reduced by sales.
The fullest reports that have been
received by the department of agri-
culture from breeders of elk are from
George w. Russ Of Eureka Springs,
bureau of plant industry.
Mr.. Russ has herd of 81 elk They
have ample range in the Ozarks on
rough land covered with hardwood
forest and abundant underbrush. The
animals improve the forest by clear
ing out part of the thicket. They feed
on buds and leaves to a height of
eight feet, and any growth under this
is liable to be eliminated if the
range is restricted. If not closely
confined, elk do. not eat the bark
from trees nor do they eat evergreens.
In clearing out underbrush from
thickets they are more useful than
goats, since they browse higher.
Goats, however, eat closer to the
ground, and as the two animals get
along well together, Mr.. Russ recon-
mends the use of both for clearing up
brushy land and fitting it for tame
grasses.
The increase of elk under domesti-
cation is equal to that of cattle.
Fully 80 per cent. of the females pro-
duce healthy young. An adult male
elk weighs from 700 to 1000 pounds;
a female from 600 to 800 pounds. The
percentage of dressed meat is great
er than with cattle, but owing to hos
tile game laws, experience in market
ing it is very limited. An offer of 40
cents pound for dressed meat was
received from st. Louis, but the law
would not permit it's export. Mr..
Russ says:
From the fact that as high as
$1.5O per pound has been paid for this
meat in New York city and Canada
and that the best hotels and res.
taurants pronounce it the finest of ali
the meats of mammals, we are of the
opinion that if laws were such that
domesticated elk meat could be fur
nished it would be many years before
the supply would make the price rea
sonable compared with other meats
Elk meat can be produced in many
sections of this county at less cost
per pound than beef, mutton or pork"