CALIFORNIA FISH AKD GAME. 



latter stream, and pi-obahly near where Turloek now is, Mr. Manly says: 

 "As we came near groves of willows, big, stately elk would start ont 

 and trot off proudly into the open plains to avoid danger. These 

 proud, big-horned monarchs of the plains could be seen in bunches 

 scattered over the broad meadows, as well as an equal amount of ante- 

 lope. They all seemed to fear us, which was wise on their part, and 

 kept out of riHe shot. As we were not starving as we were once, I 

 did not follow them out on the open plain, for I thought I could get 

 meat when we were more in need" (page 392). On the east side of 

 the valley they camped in a low ravine among low hills where game 

 was plentiful. When they awoke in the morning, "Hundreds of big- 

 horned fellows were in sight but none in rifle shot, and there was no 

 chance for us to get any nearer to them" (page 395). 



Inquiries addressed to a number of early residents of the state have 

 elicited additional information of interest and value. Perhaps the most 



J''nj. 21. AUhuLij^li the «jlk WL-iij \'rry wild -wh'-'ii lirst '•.luylit, wiihin a few days 

 they would take feed out of one's hands and permit their heads to be rubbed 

 and their ears pulled. Photo by John Rowley. 



interesting letter received is that from Mr. H. C. Banta of Oakland, who 

 writes: "I arrived in the state in 1854, overland from Missouri, locating 

 on the west bank of the San Joaquin River near the present Southern 

 Pacific railroad bridge on the Stockton route. For several years I 

 followed market hunting, geese, ducks, elk, etc. In 1854 I found elk 

 plentiful in the foothills west of the San Joaquin, as well as in the 

 tule swamp. Bob Dikeman and Lee Phillips were my hunting com- 

 panions, and we practically finished up all the tule elk in that section 

 between Martinez and San Joaquin City. The elk were originally rang- 

 ing over the hills (along the east slope of the open foothills) as far 

 south as Newman, going north as far as Grand Island. They were 

 originally driven from the hills and valley land into the tules by the 

 vaqueros rounding up wild horses and cattle, as well as by hunters. In 



