Evening star., 1936-08-09

Their numbers have been regulated
so that there always has been plenty
to eat.
Economically, Mr.. Yellowtail in
Sists, the bison and elk are an unbeat-
able tribal investment. But psyche
logically they are an even better in
veStment. The Crow has been restored
the foundation Of his native culture
at which he can beat any white man
living. His pride is stirred as it has
not been stirred in two generations
The bison herd is watched enviousIy
by every Grow. Anybody caught
shooting one would be in danger of
q bad beating.
But what is to become of the cattle
and sheep? The Crows have many Of
their own and derive considerable rev.
enue from leasing grazing land. The
answer is, Yellowtail says, that the
bison and the cattle don't interfere
with each other. In the Summer there
is plenty of grass for all. In the Win
ter only the bison can live in the
mountains. In this theory he has the
enthusiastic support of w. H. Spear,
one of the largest cattlemen in the
area and former leasee of a large part
Of the reservation grazing lands Mr.
Spear thinks so well of the project
that he has had camping party of
cowboys and dude ranchers on the
edge Of the reservation all Summer
driving back the bison from the ma
tional forest. The canyon grass, he
says, has been a wasted natural re-
source in the past. And he Is equally
certain that Bobby" is the one man
who could carry the scheme through
AS for the sheep, Mr.. Yellowtail
would as soon see them out of the area
because he believes they ruin graz
Ing land. He also has some uncom-
plimentary ideas Of his own on dry
farming" The great Campbell wheat
ranch, largest in the world, forms
part of his reservation.
Adapted to Country.
What is to keep the bison from
straying away as soon as Mr.. Spear
Withdraws his cowboys? In the first
place. the great bison range is cut off
on three sides by some of the most
awe-inspiring canyons in North Amer
lea. The bison are instinctively adapt
ed to the country, and will not plunge
over canyon walls unless they are
stampeded. Only the side connecting
with the Big Horn forest is open, and
Yellowtail has a force of Indians
building stout log fence as fast as
possible. There Is no particular OBJ
lection to their straying into the ma
tional forest, anyway. Secondly,
there Is literally fence of tempests"
shutting them on the reservation in
Winter. The prevalent Winter storms
blow across the reservations toward
the national forest and the Yellow
stone. 1t Is a curious biological fact
that bison herd always will run
against a storm, rather than with it,
as do cattle. That is the reason for
their great, thick capes of hair in
front. The tempests, says Yellowtail
always can be depended upon the
drive his animals back where they
belong.
Hunting Is absolutely barred, but
Mr.. Yellowtail intends to lift the bars
Tor one day late this month and allow
the Indians to slaughter about 10 ami
mails for the annual tribal jubilee the
flrst week in September. It will be
the first time many of the Crows
nave tasted the food of their ances-
tors.
Yellowtail looks on the mountains
ana the canyons as the great cold
storage" plant of the Grow empire
an Ice box, where there always will be
an abundant supply of live, fresh
food. This is the part Of his empire
building plant which Is nearest to
iruition-but it is only one item in
the scheme Of things by which he
hopes to bring about territorial self
suficiency.
| tCopyright. 1885. by Evening Star News
l re