SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 109 



devastation, at least in the cases of the bison, antelope and elk, 

 and the experience thereby gained has taught good lessons for 

 our future guidance. 



Whether the control of the forest reserves shall pass to 

 the Bureau of Forestry, or otherwise, there can be no more 

 appropriate site for big game refuges than within these tracts. 

 The same spirit which was the cause of reckless waste of 

 wealth in timber, through forest fires and the grazing of sheep, 

 is evident in the wanton destruction of hordes of game for the 

 mere lust of killing, which is as far removed from sportsman- 

 ship as bloody war from the homely arts of peace. But the 

 craft of the hunter is now more sorely taxed by the cleverness. 

 of the hunted, who have come to know their danger and to 

 flee from it. It is surprising how quickly the pursued learn 

 to realize the safety of the refuge tracts. This fact disposes 

 of all the force there might be in the argument that the reser- 

 vation of such protected areas will destroy the rightful hunter's 

 privilege, and require the segregation of vast areas of unpro- 

 ductive territory. 



From careful observation and experience elsewhere, it is 

 now very apparent that the best results M-ill come from small 

 refuges, say about four townships, or twelve square miles, scat- 

 tered with considerable intervals intervening. 



There is far more immediate danger, and greater future 

 menace to vested interests and the progress of civilization, in 

 the threatening devastation by tame sheep than could ever 

 arise from undue multiplication of the most ferocious wild 

 animals. As a matter of fact, bears and mountain lions do not 

 attack man unless wounded. Sheep do untold injury by 

 browsing on the short vegetation, nibbling close enough to kill ; 

 by destroying the young forest growth, the future dependence 

 for all forest products of value ; their sharp hoofs cut out the 

 roots of grasses and grind the soil to dust, which is washed off 

 by rains. In this way untold damage ensues, not only to the 

 forests, but to the farms in the valleys, which depend upon 

 the undergrowth of these forests to retain the water for regu- 

 larity of distribution. 



California's — nay the world's — greatest living prose poet, 

 beloved John Muir, has stated that every great public issue of 

 a similar nature requires about ten years of unswerving devo- 

 tion from its votaries before it may become an accomplished 

 success. We can wait, therefore, not without hope, for already 

 the sentiment, which first bitterly opposed the work at hand, 

 is changing enough to ensure respectful hearing. I thank you 

 cordially for the support you have given by your attention and 

 sympathy upon this occasion. 



