1890.] ` Editorial. 255 
° EDITORIAL. 
EDITORS, E. D., COPE AND J. S CINGSLEY, 
CCORDING to Captain Boutelle, U.S. A., superintendent of 
the National Yellowstone Park, that reservation is fulfilling 
the purpose of its existence better than ever before. Since the 
capture and conviction of depredating hunters has become 
assured, this class of persons have concluded to let the Park 
one. Men who might have once played the part «^ ~oachers 
have now become persuaded that it is to their advantage tu per- 
mit the game in the Park to increase, and furnish a supply for 
the surrounding region, which will thus continue to be the best 
hunting ground in America. Captain Boutelle informs us that 
the large game has become exceedingly tame, the black-tailed 
deer and wapiti scarcely moving out of the way of the parties 
who patrol the Park. Bison and moose are also increasing. The 
immunity from hunters has also encouraged the multiplication of 
the carnivora. The chief increase is in bears, both black and 
silver-tip. The slop-barrels and pig-pens of nearly all the hotels 
are nightly visited, says the Captain, by one or two bears, who 
divide the supplies with the swine, sometimes eating with them 
from the trough. So long as they find the necessary douceur, 
the pigs do not suffer; but if the tax is not paid, an execution is 
issued and a pig seized to satisfy the debt. Puma and wolverine 
are also increasing; so that unless some permission to reduce 
the numbers of the carnivora is obtained, the non-carnivorous 
game must suffer. 
Superintendent of the Fish Commission Col. Macdonald has 
also determined to experiment on the adaptability of the Park as 
a fish preserve. Professors Jordan and Gilbert have been exam- 
ining the distribution of fishes in the Park and the character of 
its waters, with a view to the introduction of white-fish and 
grayling, as well as some additional ‘species of trout. It will 
probably be necessary to introduce also some herbivorous fishes 
