The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-07
Government Introduces
Antelope Into Oklahoma

Washington. Feb. 6-Game Warden
Rush. of the Wichita Game Refuge
in the State of Oklahoma, has inform
ed the Department of Agriculture OF
the rece pit in good condition of head
Of antelope, which came from the Ma
tional herd in the Yellowstone Park
Through the generosity of members OF
the Boone and Crockett Club of New
York. funds were furnished for cap
turing and transporting these animals
from Wyoming to Oklahoma. The
news of the arrival of the antelope al
their destination has been received
satisfaction by the Department Off
Gals. who are much interested In the
attempt to preserve this interesting
game animal
The pronghorned antelope is unlike
any other antelope on the face of the
earth, and has so many pecuIiarit 'es
that natural'sts class it in a family
by itself. Formerly existing by thou
sands on our open Western plains. It
has now been SO reduced in numbers
that it's absolute extinction is certain
in the very near future unless protec-
ton is given to the few remaining. 1t
does not do we'll east of the Mississippi
River and can not be successfully
bred IN captivity: but it thrives if al
large enclosures and under conditions
closely approaching the natural ones.
In 1908 the Biological Survey esti-
mated that the total number Of ante
lore in the united States had been re-
duced to 1900, OF these about 100
were in Montana. wyoming and the
Yellowstone National Park. and the re-
naming 1000 were distributed in II
other States.
On the wichita Game Refuge 1t is
hoped that the antelope will find them
selves In surroundings suited to their
increase. The Wichita is really a Ma
tional Forest. and Came Warden Rush
all the business involved in it's admin
istration. But on the wichita. which
was set aside by Act of Congress as a
National Game Refuge because of its
especial sui ability to act as a breed
ing place for the wild creatures of the
plains and lower Rocky Mountain re-
gions. the importance of the game
work has overshadowed the ordinary
uses of a National Forest. There are
over $50 National Forests. but only
two Ma ional Game Refugees
This does not mean that outside of
those refugees the game on the Nation
al Forests is not protected. for the
National Forest officers are uniformly
instructed to see that the game laws
of the various States are observed on
their Forests in S, far as they can do
this injustice 20 their other duties.
Many Of the Forest officers are reeu-
larly appointed Deputy State Game
Wardens. and it is the policy of the
Department Of Agriculture o encour-
age their acting in this capacity when
they can do so without prejudice ~
their work as Forest officers They
are not. however exrec led to go OF
the Forests in order to enforce the
game laws of the States. nor can they
make enforcement of game laws the /.
PRINCIPAL occupation. The work cf a
Forest officer in looking after THO lie
Sans affairs generally insures his be-
ing pre- ty busy man. and VIVA. he
does in enforcing game laws can City
be incidental to selling timber tro-
tecting the Forests from fires 10 king
after grazing matters. AMI ~aspondil. :
TO the various other calls which use of
the Fores by the public involves
Ordinarily. game matters pertain to
the States. and not to the National
Government The State prescrires
when and under what conditions game
may he killed, If it desires to pro-
hihit the killing of game in certain
parts of the State. in order tina the
game may breed HERE. and these
parts of the states are within the Ma
tional Fores S. the Government coon
crates with the State to carry out the
law. Such cooperation may REQUIRE
the closing of fixed areas of the Ma
tional Forests 10 grazing, for when