hijjh-watcr mark. The ever-increasing expense of main- 

 taining a. large buffalo herd in a climate like that of New 

 Hampshire, where the animals have to be fed on hay 

 for five months in the year, finally forced the owners 

 to the conclusion that there was a limit to what they 

 could wisely do toward })reserving the race of bison from 

 extinction. Since then they have sold upwards of a hun- 

 dred and fifty buffaloes, but there has been such a healthy 

 increase of the stock retained, that there are still over a 

 hundred head in the preserve.* Many of the buffaloes 

 which were sold went to stock other preserves, and 

 nothing could have been better for the cause of bison 

 preservation; but alas, many of them went to the butcher 

 and the taxidermist, a fate from which we should earnestly 

 seek to save every individual of this noble race, which 

 now, through the timely efforts of the Canadian and 

 United States governments, is beginning to hold its own. 

 Perhai)s nothing else in New England is so calculated 

 to inspire one to lend a hand in the work of preserving 

 American big game, as a sight of this great buffalo herd, 

 ranging over Croydon Mountain. Not only is the ob- 

 server impressed with the majesty of the animals them- 

 selves — of their worthiness to survive — but he is impressed 

 with the fact that it is possible to preserve them, even 

 in a severe climate like that of New Hampshire, where 

 for several months in the year it is quite impossible for 

 them to obtain their own food. 



Members of this Society who may wish to see this 

 great herd, may find it convenient to know how and when 

 they may best visit the Park. The Blue Mountain 

 Forest is usually open to the public from the first of 

 June to the first of Se]:)tember, and carriages with not 

 more than two horses are admitted at ''East Pass," 

 "West Pass" and "Brighton" gates. Visitors in auto- 

 mobiles, on bicycles or afoot are not admitted. People 

 coming from Boston will find it best to get tickets for 

 Newport, N. H., whence they can drive seven miles to 

 the "East Pass" Gate. Those coming from New York 

 had best take the train to Windsor, Vt., and from there 



♦Written six months after the census was taken. 



45 



