Buffalo 301 



The apparent diminution in 1905 was due to the continued 

 hunting of the wild ones in north-west Canada. 



In 1903 Dr. Baker estimated these latter at 600; in 1905 

 at 400. My own estimate, after a month on their range in 

 1907, is 300. They seem to be doomed, unless the Government 

 takes vigorous steps to save them. But the captives in America 

 and Europe have increased from the original stock of 200 in 

 1888 to 1,722 in 1908, and there is every prospect that they 

 will continue as they have begun. 



Many able pens have recorded the service that this im- the 

 posing creature rendered man. It needs no telling here. He """^^^^"^ 

 fed a quarter of a million and clothed twice as many human 

 beings. But these services are ended. As a wild animal the 

 Buffalo is gone! The great herds will never again be seen 

 roaming the Plains. 



Who is there of the present generation that does not feel 

 profound regret at this thought, and ask himself, "Oh, why 

 was I born too late ? " What would I not give to have seen the 

 Buffalo days and people in their romantic prime ? Much of 

 the hungry regret that Sir Walter Scott felt over the departed 

 glories of feudal life, is felt by every boy and young man of our 

 country now, when he hears of the Buffalo days and the stirring 

 times of the bygone wildest West. Why was this extermina- 

 tion allowed .? Why did not the Government act ? This and 

 a hundred other saddest ** might-have-beens" spring forth from 

 hearts that truly feel they lost a wonderful something when 

 butchers, drawn from the human dregs of border towns, were 

 turned loose to wipe out the great herds that meant so much 

 to all who love the wilds and the primitive in life. 



There is but one answer, It was absolutely inevitable. The 

 Buffalo ranged the Plains that were needed by the outcrowded 

 human swarms of Europe. Producing Buffalo was not the 

 best use to which those Plains could be put. The Buffalo, 

 possessed of vast size and strength, of an obstinate, impetuous 

 disposition that would stampede in a given line and keep that 

 Hne to the utter destruction of all obstacles or of himself, was 



