TRACKS AND TRACKING 



means the downfall and extinction of that relic 

 of gray ages, the bear. 



Where not plentiful and the places where 

 they are found in number are to-day quite few 

 and remote from civilization bears are, on the 

 whole, harmless, and decidedly more useful than 

 injurious. The damage they do is almost nil, 

 while they serve man in many ways. The meat 

 of young bears is equal to the best venison ; their 

 fat is decidedly superior to the " fancy " lard we 

 buy, of the source and handling of which we are 

 ignorant; and the hides give excellent service as 

 robes, rugs and clothing. In my opinion bears 

 should be protected to a certain extent rather than 

 shot down merely to make a record. 



Sport should be conducted in a spirit of fair- 

 ness to the game, and while a couple of dogs is 

 perhaps permissible in bear hunting, still-hunting 

 is the better sport, because it requires the utmost 

 skill and knowledge of woodcraft on account of 

 the quarry's sagacity and cunning, which is 

 superior to that of any other of our wild animals. 

 Even if one is able to read the habits of the 

 bear clearly from its trail, it is necessary to pos- 



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