THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 33 



tions" were published in the Potter and McKean 

 County newspapers, which tihe writer received reg- 

 ularly as a subscriber ! It seems a pity that an animal 

 so picturesque in appearance, so grotesque in its habits, 

 and as great* a source of sport should have so many 

 enemies, some of our mountain people are still in a 

 tribal state, and the old desire <to kill off everything 

 still lurks in tlheir breasts. 



Hon. Henry Meyer, of Re'bersburg, Centre County, 

 born in 1840, says that once he was out trout fishing 

 in the early Spring on a small stream on the Winter 

 side of Brush Valley, when he noted that the water 

 was all ''roiled." Pretty soon he encountered a giant 

 Black Bear that was making an unsuccessful effort to 

 catch fish with its front paws. Mr. Meyer is of the 

 opinion that bears can never catch anything more than 

 crayfish in the streams. 



The bear deserves all the protection he can get, in 

 Pennsylvania', in the South, in the West, to furnish 

 sport for young manhood, amusement for childhood, 

 and reflection for old age he is an ally of all that 

 is quaint and curious in the life of the forest. Bear 

 hunting is a noble pastime if pursued according to 

 sporting rules, and all are invigorated and strengthen- 

 ed by pitting human skill against such a sagacious 

 monster. Economically, the bear is of value for his 

 flesh, his hide, and his grease, he is an insect destroyer 

 of immense value to the forests, consuming myriads of 

 ants, which are becoming so destructive to our >oung 

 pine trees. Historically, he is linked with Indian days, 



