466 PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



original abundant stock of white- tailed deer. In 1870, the 

 species was, so far as known, practically extinct throughout that 

 state. In 1875, a few business men of Rutland decided to make 

 an attempt to restock with deer the open forests around that 

 city. Accordingly they went to the Adirondacks, procured 

 seven female and six male white-tailed deer, took them to a 

 forest six miles from Rutland, and set them free. 



"Those deer took kindly to their new home, persisted and pro- 

 ceeded to stock the state. None were killed, save a few that 

 were shot contrary to law, for twenty-two years. 



"In 1897, it was decided that Vermont's deer had become 

 sufficiently numerous and well established so that deer hunting 

 might begin; but on bucks only. In that year 150 head were 

 killed, and during the next three years about the same number 

 were taken annually. In 1901, 211 were killed; in 1902, 561; 

 in 1905, 791; in 1907, 1600; in 1908, 2208, and in 1909, the grand 

 total was 5261. The total weight of venison taken was 716,358 

 pounds. Computed at the lowest reasonable valuation, twelve 

 cents per pound, the total value for 1909 would be $85,962 " 

 (Hornaday). 



Many organizations are now engaged in the propagation of 

 wild life. The federal government has established the Bureau 

 of the Biological Survey, and has protected the game within 

 the National Parks. The next step in the progress of the work 

 should be a similar protection of the game in our National 

 Forests. The state governments have appointed commissions 

 for the protection and propagation of game, and many game 

 farms have been established where animals are raised for the 

 purposes of distribution throughout the states. Besides this 

 there are a few private preserves in this country. 



Among the national organizations interested in game protection 

 are the American Bison Society, the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, the Campfire Club of America, the League of American 

 Sportsmen, the National Association of Audubon Societies, and 

 the New York Zoological Society. 



