KEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 123 



of the lake free from intrusion by pleasure seekers, at least during 

 the nesting season. The question of stocking the reservoirs of Cold 

 Springs, Oreg. ; Deer Flat and Minidoka, Idaho; and Belle Fourche, 

 S. Dak., with fish was taken up with the Bureau of Fisheries, and it 

 is probable that these reservations for birds will soon become reser- 

 vations for fish as well. 



NATIONAL BISON RANGE. 



No damage was done to the National Bison Range, in Montana, by 

 the forest fires of 1910, although they raged around it only a short 

 distance away. Fifteen buffalo calves were born in the spring of 

 1911, and 3 adult buffalo, presented by the American Bison Society, 

 were placed on the range. Twelve antelope from the Yellowstone 

 National Park and 7 elk from Jacksons Hole, Wyoming, were added 

 to the occupants of the range during the year. Four of the antelope 

 died, and as no deer have been seen recently, the game on the range 

 at the close of the year comprised 66 buffalo, 8 antelope, and 7 elk. In 

 this connection' it may be mentioned that the American Bison Society 

 is taking steps, in cooperation with this department, to secure ground 

 for an additional bison range in South Dakota. 



ALASKA. 



More rigid protection of deer and walrus in Alaska having been 

 found necessary, new regulations were issued on July 29, 1910, short- 

 ening the hunting seasons, limiting the number of deer which may be 

 killed by each hunter, preventing the sale of venison during 1911, and 

 prohibiting all killing of walrus in Bristol Bay and south of the 

 Kuskokwim River until 1912. Only five wardens were employed 

 during the year, but this number will be augmented next year owing 

 to an increase of $5,000 made by Congress in the appropriation for 

 warden service in 1912. 



DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. 



During the year there were received, audited, and paid 118,921 

 accounts, amounting to $15,736,198.02. More than 4,200 of these ac- 

 counts, moreover, were so-called combined accounts, in connection 

 with which there was probably a saving of at least 21,000 checks, to 

 say nothing of the saving of other clerical labor in connection there- 

 with. There were also audited and sent to the Treasury for pay- 

 ment 4,368 accounts. In the payment of the 118,921 accounts men- 

 tioned above it was necessary to draw 244 requisitions on the Treas- 

 ury and subtreasuries and issue 225,019 checks. There were issued 

 during the year 27,345 requisitions for supplies, 7,063 letters of 

 authorization for travel, 44,976 requests for passenger travel, and 



