BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 133 



coulees and a few high buttes. To the east the Mission range, snow- 

 capped in winter and clothed in dark green during summer, makes an im- 

 posing view. Occasionally in winter, when the river freezes, the herd 

 crosses the river and give much trouble. 



In the large bay of Flathead lake extending west from the main body 

 of water is a large island, named Wild Horse Island. Its location may 

 be seen by consulting Plate XXXVI. Several years ago about 75 half- 

 breed buffaloes and four full blooded bulls were placed on this island and 

 left to roam. The island is several miles long and not quite as great in 

 width. It is well timbered, and rises several hundred feet above the lake. 

 The writer has not been on the island, but has been around it on the 

 water. No one lives on it. Rarely is it visited, even by Indians. It is 

 entirely within the Flathead Indian Reservation. 



The buffaloes staid on the island for a couple of years, but did not like 

 it. They began swimming to the mainland, a mile and half away, con- 

 tinuing thus until but a few were left on the island, when they were re- 

 moved. 



This short record shows what can be done by private enterprises, and 

 that the work of the Indian. In twenty years a hord of 36 has increased 

 to more than 350, or ten times the original number, with no record of 

 the many sales that have been made during most of the time. In 20 

 years the number of calves is given per year at 65, more than double the 

 original number. The range on which the herd is kept certainly does 

 not exceed 70 to 100 square miles, and they could no doubt be kept on 

 a much smaller range than this. 



There is this noticeable difference between the Allard-Pablo herd on 

 the Flathead Indian reservation and the herd in Yellowstone Park, to 

 which so much attention has been directed, and which has done so much 

 toward forming an opinion in the minds of men adversely to further at- 

 tempts to save to the world a herd of these noble animals. The Allard- 

 Pablo herd has a man with it constantly. The animals are therefore 

 accustomed to man, and are not alarmed at his approach. The Park 

 herd were rarely seen by man, and were not carefully looked after. The 

 Park herd were placed at a high altitude, over 7,000 feet, where snows 

 were deep, winters long and severe, and where it was very difficult, per- 

 haps impossible, to give them aid in case of scarcity of food. The Allard- 

 Pablo herd has a range at altitude below 3,000 feet, where deep snows 

 do not occur, and where poachers cannot molest without fear of discov- 

 ery. Moreover, hay or grain may be taken to the herd in a few hours in 

 case of necessity. While they range in a treeless valley, they have in 

 the range coulees, morainal depressions, river and creek banks, which 

 offer shelter. Several high buttes offer protection from the wind, while 

 the river, creeks and ponds supply abundance of water. 



From a careful study of the facts it will become apparent that Con- 

 gress should not cease in its efforts to save the buffalo from extinction. 

 An appropriation of $8,000 will purchase 25 cows and a dozen bulls. If 

 purchased from several different herds there is little danger from inbreed- 

 ing. This is as large a herd as Allard and Pablo had in the beginning. 

 With the same care exercised over this herd in 20 years the increase 

 from 25 cows and 12 bulls should make the herd number between 400 and 



