REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON STATE HERDS 
By T.S. Pater 
LTHOUGH nothing very definite in establishing 
State herds of buffalo was accomplished during 
the year, legislation was enacted in several States pro- 
viding for game refuges, and a member of the Com- 
mittee visited one or two of the preserves which may 
be utilized for buffalo. Very few of the States have 
seriously entered upon the problem of restocking with 
big game or establishing parks or preserves for deer, 
elk, or other big game, although Pennsylvania, West 
Virginia, Utah and Oregon have placed deer or elk 
in preserves, and several of the western States have 
hberated elk in National Forests. During 1913 fifteen 
new State game preserves were provided in several of 
the western States. Only a few of these are suitable for 
buffalo, among the more promising being the Capitol 
Preserve in Oregon, and the State game preserve in 
Custer County, South Dakota. There are, however, 
several other State preserves already in existence which 
might be utilized in this way. Of these the following 
are the more important: 
MinneEsota.—Itasca State Park: Created in 1891, 
with an area of 20,000 acres under the charge of the 
State Forester. The park will probably be stocked with 
elk this winter and it might also be used for buffalo. 
NortH Caroitina.—At the special session of the 
North Carolina Legislature on October 6, 1913, a bill 
was ratified providing protection for big game in Fair- 
view Park, at Albemarle, Stanly County, and other 
private preserves in the State. Fairview Park is 
worthy of examination as a possible place for buffalo. 
SoutH Daxora.—The State legislature has re- 
cently established a game refuge of 8,000 acres in Cus- 
ter County, secured through exchange of school sec- 
tions in the National Forests. An appropriation of 
$15,000 has been made for fencing this preserve. Ef- 
forts are being made to stock it with elk and antelope 
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