INTRODUCTION ix 



some instances very completely, to the still un- 

 inhabited wilderness. The wild creatures have 

 failed to find refuge even in the most remote 

 mountain fastness or arid desert. In the Rocky 

 Mountain region, on the great Colorado Pla- 

 teau, and, in fact, throughout the whole United 

 States, are wilderness areas, some of them of 

 vast extent, which are neither adapted to agri- 

 culture, nor capable of any development, so 

 far as we know at present, but which would 

 support great numbers of valuable so-called 

 game animals. The most inaccessible and 

 rugged mountains are the natural habitat, for 

 instance, of mountain sheep. Likewise, there 

 are unpeopled regions adapted to antelope, elk, 

 moose, or other valuable species, as well as 

 many of the fur-bearing animals. 



Were these animals permitted to propagate in 

 sufficient numbers in those sections unavailable 

 for settlement or development, they would un- 

 doubtedly prove a valuable national resource. 

 But it was only in recent years that our Fed- 

 eral and some of our State governments took 

 cognizance of the fact that wild animals were 

 of value and might well be reckoned among 

 our national resources. In an age and country 

 where the accumulation of wealth is the first 

 consideration of the people, anything that ap- 



