368 ANNU.VL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



to from 1,000 to 1,200 tons would provide a surplus sufficient to meet 

 any emergency and insure the perpetuation of the southern elk herd. 

 It is imperative if the interests of the southern herd are to be reason- 

 ably safefruarded that additional hay land adjoining the present 

 refu<Te be purchased at an early date. 



National Bison Range^ Moiese {near Dixon) ^ Mont. — During the 



gast year substantial improvements were made at the National Bison 

 ange, including the construction of a residence for an assistant 

 warden. At certain times of the year, particularly during the 

 months when there is danger from hres, it is essential to have an 

 assistant warden regularly employed on the range, and at other 

 times extra assistance is necessary to enable the warden to perform 

 his duties efficiently. Owing to tlie drought of 1919 unusual pressure 

 was brought to bear on the department to open up part of the range 

 for grazing, but on account of the danger of communicating cattle 

 diseases to the buffalo it was considered unwise to assume the risk of 

 jeopardizing the herds for which the range was established. Grass 

 fires in August and September at first threatened to do considerable 

 damage, but through the activity of the warden and the assistance 

 furnished by the Reclamation Service and the Indian Agent they 

 were extinguished after a few hours with only slight losses. A fire in 

 the first week in August burned over about 1,000 acres. 



The animals on the range now number nearly 600 liead, as follows : 

 Buffalo, 332; elk, 200; antelope, 40; and mule deer, 19. The herd of 

 buffalo is now the second in size belonging to the Government and is 

 fourth in point of numbers of those in the United States. The ante- 

 lope show only a slight increase, but the losses have been smaller than 

 in the previous year and it is hoped that the herd will increase more 

 rapidly. Arrangements were made to secure a few white-tailed 

 deer, and efforts will be continued during the coming year to estab- 

 lish a small herd on the reservation. 



Wind Cave National Game Preserve, S. Dak. — The inclosure of 

 4,160 acres on this reservation now contains about 60 buffalo, 105 elk, 

 20 antelope, and 2 deer. As in the case of the Montana range and 

 the elk refuge, the past winter proved unusually severe, but the 

 losses were slight. The number of antelope remains about the same 

 as last year, the natural increase being unfortunately offset by the 

 loss of 7 animals. 



It is highly desirable that the boundary lines on the north and 

 west of the game preserve be modified by the addition of a small 

 area in the adjoining national forest in order to straighten the lines 

 and provide for future permanent boundary fences before the land 

 becomes alienated or settled. Shelters, benches, tables, and other 

 conveniences should also be provided for the comfort of visitors who 

 wish to eat lunch or spend the day at the game preserve. 



Sullys Hill Game Preserve., N . Dak. — Substantial progress has 

 been made during the year in the improvement of this reservation, 

 including the approval of plans for the construction of a women's 

 rest house and for covered pavilions for protection during sudden 

 storms. Plans for the extension of automobile roads from Devils 

 Lake contemplate the construction of a road through the park im- 

 mediately adjoining the lake shore. In case this improvement is 

 consummated, the preserve will be readily accessible by automobile 



