58 



On Liexitenant Lockwood's route between Cave Camp and the headwaters of the Muddy, 

 timber was encountered at three different points : first, about twelve miles below our camp in Cave 

 Valley, to the west and opposite to the Patterson District ; second, on the Pahranagat range, in 

 the vicinity of the Great Quartz Mountain ; and on the same range, some thirty-five to forty miles 

 northwest from West Point. 



The supply is quite large at the first and third points, while 750,000 feet will be the superior 

 limit in the vicinity of the Pahranagat mining-camp. The last situation is upon the eastern slope 

 of the Spring Mountain range, and nearly fifty miles in a northwest direction from Las Vegas. 

 The amount far exceeds that found at any of the other points, and will not be limited by 3,000,000 

 feet of lumber. 



The pines are of very large diameter and of extreme lengths. Spruce and hemlock show them- 

 selves to a considerable extent. The only black birch and poplar encountered during the trip 

 were found in this locality in small quantities. 



It will be seen that with the exception of two instances the timber-patches of this entire sec- 

 tion are on the eastern slopes of the mountain-ridges, as it is natural to expect, from the formation 

 of the foot-hills. 



Nut-pine and mountain-cedar abound in frequent localities, and will become of great value as 

 fuel in many places where now only the former aflbrd the pine-nuts as a sustenance to the Indian. 

 These are large enough in many places to act as timbering for the mines. 



It becomes painfully evident that in event of the development of the various mining sections, 

 'umber, always scarce, will of necessity command high prices and entail serious hindennce and 

 discomfort. This was noticed to a remarkable degree in the early days of White Pine, when lum- 

 ber was worth two hundred to three hundred dollars per thousand, allowing the shipment of it by 

 rail from the Sierra Nevada to Elko, on the railroad, thence by freighting to White Pine, with large 



profits. 



GAME. 



Southern Nevada cannot be said to be abundant in game in any of its localities. Among 

 large game there the deer and antelope are noted. The latter, once abundant in some of the 

 valleys, have been driven away by the approach of civilization. Small droves of five or six were 

 seen occasionally upon the route, but always at distances out of ordinary rifle-shot. The deer that 

 now remain have been hunted to the mountains and ravines by the Indians, and are as rare as are 

 the summer rains of this climate. They no longer go in herds, but separate, two by two, to seek 

 secure retreats. 



Among the small game are found duck, geese, crane, sage-hen, grouse, quail, jack and cotton- 

 tail rabbits. In some sections the duck are very plenty ; especially in Kuby Valley, at Duckwater 

 inPailroad Valley; also in Spring, Snake, and Meadow Valleys. They appear in turn at most of 

 the valley locations where there is clear and living water. They were noticed in the greatest num- 

 bers among a nest of lakes in the depression of the valley immediately to the eastward of Pat- 

 terson District, one of their great breeding-grounds. 



The principal species are the teal, mallard, and canvas-back; varieties of each were noticed, 

 the former predominating. Geese, more migratory in their habits, were rarely seen, except upon 

 their march for the southward, upon our return, having come from points further north on their 

 way to a winter resort. 



Now and then small parties of large sand-hill cranes were encountered, always so shy that no 

 success followed any of the attempts to capture them. 



The sage-hen, so well known in Nevada, are found more or less in nearly every one of the 

 valleys, and if not too far advanced in age make a very good dish for the hungry traveler. 



Grouse only appear high up among the mountains, where timber is found, and hence at very , 

 few points. They are perhaps the most delicate eating of any of the small game and the most 

 ditlicnlt of capture. 



(iuail are not met with until the latitude of about 37° 30' is reached. From this section to the 

 southward as far as the Colorado occasionally flocks of small size show themselves. The varieties 

 are those known as the ordinary California quail, somewhat smaller than those found in the Eastern 

 States. 



