296 SADDLE AND CAMP 



casses on an area containing somewhat less than 

 forty acres and found seventy-five. 



Unfortunately the region to which this ref- 

 erence was made, which lies in the Gallatin 

 and Absaroka National Forest Reserves, was 

 covered with snow when I reached Montana. 

 The sheep had been driven off for the winter 

 and the carcasses of the dead elk were hidden 

 under the snow. It was therefore quite fruit- 

 less for me to attempt to learn anything at this 

 time from a personal inspection of the ranges, 

 and I was forced to confine my investigation to 

 interviewing people, like Mr. Hague, familiar 

 with the ground and the conditions. 



In addition to the charge that excessive num- 

 bers of sheep were permitted to graze where no 

 sheep should be allowed, resulting in wholesale 

 starvation of animals, the additional charge was 

 made that this condition was to no small ex- 

 tent the result of graft. Before a sheepman can 

 take his flocks upon a public range he must 

 make application to the Federal authorities for 

 a license to graze a designated number of sheep 

 in a designated district. It was charged that 

 the sheepman "sees" the forest ranger or inspec- 

 tor patrolling the district which it is desired to 

 enter; the ranger, his conscience having been 

 duly quieted, reports that there is ample pas- 



