332 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1930 



areas of various types, and the combinations of animal life on va- 

 rious areas that will yield the maximum returns either in money, or 

 pleasure, without detriment to other interests. 



The raising of more than one kind of crop at a time on land is 

 very appealing to the agriculturist, and in wild-animal husbandry 

 this practice is particularly applicable. For example a tract while 

 growing timber on the uplands can produce beavers and mink in 

 the streams and bonds, raccoons and opossums will roam the entire 

 area with the foxes and deer, and some fish can be raised in the 

 streams and ponds in excess of those killed by the minks, while frogs 

 and turtles may supplement the yield. 



The working out of methods by which the carrying capacity of 

 areas may be determined is an important problem that has a wide 

 application. Excellent progress has been made in determining how 

 many sheep or cattle should be grazed on various types of stock 

 ranges and much good has resulted from application of the knowl- 

 edge obtained. Similar need exists for yardsticks by which we 

 can ascertain how many deer or elk can be produced on a given 

 tract or how many beavers or muskrats, or both, can be raised on 

 various lakes and streams, and how many fish can be raised in such 

 waters at the same time. How many raccoons, mink, otters, turtles, 

 and frogs can be produced on a given swamp? Could greater reve- 

 nue be derived by raising waterfowl, or should a compromise be 

 aimed at and a combined harvest of fish, turtles, frogs, fur bearers, 

 and birds be sought? What kinds of stock should be placed on a 

 tract and how many of each kind? 



In line with the teaching of the proper times and methods of tak- 

 ing wild life is the teaching of proper methods of preserving animals 

 or animal products for use or for the market. Ignorance and 

 neglect of the best methods of preparing the pelts of fur bearers an- 

 nually costs the trappers a surprising sum. Waste of game meat 

 and other products should be unheard of in the present day but it 

 occurs regularly among sportsmen who apparently do not inform 

 themselves how to care for game and by aborigines and some others 

 who regularly live upon game. The prohibition against com- 

 mercialization of parts of game animals has resulted in the waste of 

 many fine skins and heads of such animals killed for food purposes. 

 Certainly no provision should be advocated which will stimulate 

 greater killing of valuable forms where the supply is already in- 

 adequate, but thought can well be devoted to devising means of per- 

 mitting the utilization of all parts of the animals that are law- 

 fully killed. 



Determining the proper proportions on the range of the sexes of 

 polygamous game animals such as deer and elk is a problem that has 

 a direct bearing on the formulation of laws and regulations for the 

 protection of these animals. 



