Hunting" in Many Lands 



the fire was soon under control. In a few 

 hours it would have been in the heavy timber 

 on the shore of Shoshone Lake, and there 

 is no limit to the damage it might have 

 wrought. 



As a last heading of my subject I shall 

 touch on the protection of the game. This 

 was never seriously attempted until Major 

 Harris came to the Park, in i8S6; but he 

 attacked it with an earnestness and a fear- 

 lessness that has left a lasting impress. It is 

 not probable that the Park is the natural home 

 of bison, elk or deer, yet the last remnant of 

 the first and great numbers of the last two 

 are found here. The high altitude, great cold 

 and extreme depth of snow make it a forbid- 

 ding habitat for the ruminants. They remain 

 here simply because they are protected. Pro- 

 tection was given by a system of scouting 

 extended over the best game ranges, and 

 throughout the season of probable game de- 

 struction. A good many captures were made ; 

 the poachers were turned loose and their prop- 

 erty confiscated ; this was all the law allowed. 

 The depredating element of the community 

 soon came to care very little for this menace 

 to their business, for they entered the Park 



394 



