the Forest Service in many places which has resulted 

 in an increased stock carrying capacity. 



5. Immediate action is advisable. The sage grouse 

 and prong-horn antelope are the most characteristic 

 species of North America. These species exist nowhere 

 else in the world. Each played an important economic 

 part in the development of the West and it is our duty 

 to maintain a sample for their economic, zoological and 

 scenic value. 



6. They are practically the only species which have 

 the capacity of turning the worthless sage brush into 

 l^alatable meat. At any season of the year they can 

 suljsist if necessary on sage lirush and similar useless 

 vegetation, supplemented when possible by a modicum 

 of dry grass and weeds. No domesticated species can 

 do this. In spite of the fact that these species appear 

 not to thrive under wire it may l^e practicable in the 

 future to develo}) an economic method of thus convert- 

 ing the sage grouse prol)al)ly and the antelope possibly 

 into meat for hiunan food. In any event this experi- 

 ment is worth}" of consideration. This remote and deso- 

 late area is practically the last stand of these species 

 in. anywhere near normal numl)ers on pul)lic land. The 

 people of Oregon and the settlers within the region are 

 desirous of Federal su^jport in developing and main- 

 taining this project. 



I recommend that the Federal Government co- 

 o])erate Avith the States of Oregon and Nevada in wise 

 maintenance and utilization of the natural game assets 

 and make a National Reservation of all the public land 

 within the boundaries indicated on the accompanying 

 map. The danger of extermination of the prong-horn 

 antelope has long l)een recognized. To mention but a 

 few, who have pointed out the facts : The first construc- 

 tive work was done l:)y the Boone & Crockett Clu]} in 

 1910, when this Association introduced herds in 

 National Game Reservations, the Montana National 

 Bison Range and Wichita Game Preserve, by transfer 

 of animals from the Yellowstone Park, and later pro- 

 vided funds for transfers to the Montana Bison Range 



94 



