CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 87 



mare, and left an impression on my youthful mind never to be for- 

 gotten." (Edward Bosqiii, "Memoirs,'' pp. 62 and 66.) 



Speaking of IMoraga Valley (in Contra Costa County just back of 

 Oakland) JNlr. Bosqui says: "The hillsides were covered with clover 

 and wild oats, and up to 1850 all the country in and about Moraga 

 Valley had been the native haunts of wild game — deer, antelope, bear 

 and elk. Fragments of bleaching elk horns could be found scattered 

 over the valley, and many entire and perfect specimens of the great 

 antlers, although bleached by the sun, I picked up and preserved at the 

 time of our residence there," which was in 1858 and after. (Bosqui, 

 "Memoirs," p. 163.) 



In a very interesting book entitled "Death Valley in '49," by William 

 Lewis ]\Ianly, to which my attention has been called by Mr. John 

 Rowley, I find a number of interesting references to the California 

 valley elk. In the spring of 1850, Mr. Manly traveled from San Jose 



Pig. 20. — Bucks and docs, just after entering the small corral. Photo by John 



Rowlej'. 



into and across the San Jotiquin Valley, presuinal)ly through Livermore 

 Pass. lie says: "The next place was a small house made of willow 

 poles set in the ground and plastered over with mud. This rejoiced 

 in the name of "JNIountain House." This wayside inn looked more 

 like a horsethief's glory; only one or two men, a quarter of elk hanging 

 on a pole and no accommodations for man or beast. * * * On the 

 summits of the mountains as we passed through we saw, standing like 

 guards, many large buck elk. It was now fifteen miles to the San 

 Joacpiin River, and a level plain lay before us. When our road turned 

 into the river bottom we found the water too deep to get through 

 safely so we concluded to go on and try to find some place where w^e could 

 cross. On our way droves of antelope could be seen frolicing over the 

 broad plains, while in the distance were herds of elk winding their way 

 from the mountains towards the river for water. When far away their 

 horns were the first things visible, and they much resembled the dry 

 tops of dead pine trees, but a nearer view showed them to us as the 

 proud monarchs of the plains" (page 391). After crossing the San 

 Joaquin just below the mouth of the Merced, they proceeded up the 



