302 Bird - Lore 



its meeting there. The sessions of the convention were presided over by President 

 W. F. Scott, State Game Warden of Montana; Chas. A. Voglesang, of CaU- 

 fornia, acting as secretary. In the course of General Young's hearty address of 

 welcome, many exceedingly interesting statements were made regarding the 

 increase of game in the park. For instance, we learned that about sixty-five 

 head of Buffalo are still preserved. About one-half of these are kept in a corral 

 near Gardner. The remaining ones are still running in a wild state in the Pigeon 

 Creek country, near Yellowstone Lake. The increase of these herds is not 

 rapid, one reason being the fact that the males increase much more rapidly than 

 the females. About 25,000 Elk are now believed to be in the Park, and the number 

 is continually augmented by additional bands which come in from the surround- 

 ing states to escape prosecution of the hunters, many of whom desire to kill 

 these fine game animals simply for the teeth. Antelopes are on the increase, 

 as are also Mountain Sheep. Mule Deer are today very abundant, and may be 

 seen almost everywhere while passing through the Park. 



Following the remarks of General Young, Colonel Anderson, former acting 

 superintendent of the Park, was introduced. His address was one of the most 

 valuable and interesting of the entire convention, His experience in endeavor- 

 ing to preserve the game and repress poachers dated from the time of his appoint- 

 ment in 1 88 1, and his early struggles on behalf of the game of the park were 

 listened to Hke tales of romance. 



Dr. T. S. Palmer, of Washington, D. C, spoke on 'Novel Features of Recent 

 Game Legislation,' giving, in connection with this, a most valuable summary 

 of all the game legislation in the United States in the past year, as well as throw- 

 ing out many valuable suggestions regarding needed laws in different states. 

 The commissioners from one state after another followed, and told of the bird 

 and game conditions in the territory over which their jurisdiction extended. 

 It is interesting to note that many of these gentlemen gave the National Associa- 

 tion of Audubon Societies and the officers of the state organizations very decided 

 credit for battles which had been won in their states for bird and game protection. 



The work of the Audubon Society in influencing legislation, particularly 

 the past year in saving the non-game bird law in Oregon; helping preserve the 

 remnant of the Game Commission in Missouri; the splendid work done in Con- 

 necticut with the establishment of the license law and other important features; 

 the creating of the Game Commission in Alabama, and the securing of full 

 control of the game protection work in South Carolina, were some of the matters 

 which were discussed in detail before the convention. The Audubon Society 

 is today an enormous factor in game legislation in America, and the cooperation 

 of the Audubon Societies and the State Game Commissioners throughout the 

 union is a most fortunate and valuable combination, and these two forces should 

 work hand in hand continually with tremendous and far-reaching results for 

 good. Among the most entertaining speakers of the convention were David 

 E. Farr of Colorado, L. T. Carleton of Maine, Dr. Geo. W. Field and John 



