THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 495 



This condition of affairs rapidly improved ; but such was the furor for 

 (slaughter, and the ignorance of all concerned, that every hide sent to 

 market in 1871 represented no less than five dead buffalo. 



By 1873 the condition of affairs had somewhat improved, through 

 better organization of the hunting parties and knowledge gained by 

 experience in curing. For all that, however, buffaloes were still so ex- 

 ceedingly plentiful, and shooting was so much easier than skinning, 

 the latter was looked upon as a necessary evil and still slighted to such 

 an extent that every hide actually sold and delivered represented two 

 dead buffaloes. 



In 1874 the slaughterers began to take alarm at the increasing scar- 

 city of buffalo, and the skinners, having a much smaller number of 

 dead animals to take care of than ever before, were able to devote more 

 time to each subject and do their work properly. As a result, Colonel 

 Dodge estimated that during 1874, and from that time on, one hundred 

 skins delivered represented not more than one hundred and twenty-five 

 dead buffaloes ; but that " no parties have ever got the proportion lower 

 than this." 



The great southern herd was slaughtered by still-hunting, a method 

 which has already been fully described. A typical hunting party is 

 thus described by Colonel Dodge: * 



" The most approved party consisted of four men — one shooter, two 

 skinners, and one man to cook, stretch hides, and take care of camp. 

 Where buffalo were very plentiful the number of skinners was increased. 

 A light wagon, drawn by two horses or mules, takes the outfit into the 

 wilderness, and brings into camp the skins taken each day. The out- 

 fit is most meager: a sack of flour, a side of bacon, 5 pounds of coffee, 

 tea, and sugar, a little salt, and possibly a few beans, is a month's sup- 

 ply. A common or "A" tent furnishes shelter; a couple of blankets 

 for each man is a bed. One or more of Sharps or Remington's heaviest 

 sporting rifles, and an unlimited supply of ammunition, is the arma- 

 ment; while a coffee-pot, Dutch-oven, frying-pan, four tin plates, and 

 four tin cups constitute the kitchen and table furniture. 



"The skinning knives do duty at the platter, and 'fingers were made 

 before forks.' Nor must be forgotten one or more 10-gallon kegs for 

 water, as the camp may of necessity be far away from a stream. The 

 supplies are generally furnished by the merchant for whom the party 

 is working, who, in addition, pays each of the party a specified percent- 

 age of the value of the skins delivered. The shooter is carefully selected 

 for his skill and knowledge of the habits of the buffalo. He is captain 

 and leader of the party. When all is ready, he plunges into the wilder- 

 ness, going to the center of the best buffalo region known to him, not 

 already occupied (for there are unwritten regulations recognized as 

 laws, giving to each hunter certain rights of discovery and occupancy). 



* Plains of the Great West, p. 134. 



