198 



RECREATION. 



loaded, one with 25 carcasses and one with 

 15. At other times as many as 10 wagons 

 were to be seen loaded with an average of 

 10 carcasses each. 



The Indian method of hunting antelope is 

 unique and successful. They start out from 

 the agency in big bunches, with government 

 teams, government grub, government 

 clothes, government guns, loaded down with 

 squaws and papooses and leading any num- 

 ber of ponies. Time is no object with a red- 

 skin, so when they reach a country contain- 

 ing antelope they send out scouts. When a 

 bunch is sighted, every buck takes a hand, 

 whether with a gun or not. All mount 

 ponies, and, guided by signals from some 

 one on a high knoll, they surround their 

 prey. At a given signal, one of the bucks 

 shows himself. The antelope start off, enly 

 to be turned by some other person in the 

 cordon, and are thus kept " milling " until 

 the circle closes in, and the government 

 rifles begin their work. An antelope is the 

 most easily rattled animal on earth, and 

 when a crowd of government red pets gets 

 after a bunch not one escapes. 



The result of this slaughter has been that 

 the country North of the Black Hills was 

 this fall almost cleaned out. Only a few 

 scattered bands remain and some have been 

 driven down to the Belle Fourche river. 



These Indians are not supposed to be off 

 the reservation without a pass — much less to 

 kill game in violation of law. Some of them, 

 however, have been out this season and 

 showed passes 3 years old. 



The slaughter became so general that a 

 Sturgis party made formal complaint to the 

 interior department — too late, of course to 

 do any good this year, but in the hope that 

 after this the authorities at the various agen- 

 cies will obey their instructions. They have 

 violated the law. If done knowingly they 

 are punishable. If done through gross care- 

 lessness and negligence, someone else should 

 take charge. 



Sturgis, S. D., Record. 



The Indian Bureau promises to " investi- 

 gate " this case and I am curious to know 

 what the result may be. The Indians who 

 committed this deviltry should be sent to 

 jail for a year and the agent who permitted 

 them to do it should be sent up for 2 years. — 

 Editor. 



TOMAH'S TRUE SPORTSMEN. 

 In 1896 the legislature of Wisconsin ap- 

 propriated $500 for the purpose of breeding 

 and rearing pheasants, and to stock the up- 

 lands and breeding grounds with these noted 

 game birds. The money was placed in the 

 hands of the State Fish and Game Wardens, 

 under the supervision of Superintendent 

 Nevins. Several pairs of birds were put out 

 in the Lake Superior region last fall, when 

 they should have been kept until spring, as 



no benefit has been realized from them this 

 fall planting in a region altogether too far 

 North, with sparse feeding grounds, deep 

 snows and extremely cold weather. 



In Tomah is a pheasantry under the man- 

 agement of J. F. Blome, which has proved 

 successful. Last spring was formed " The 

 Tomah Fish and Game Protecting Club," 

 with about 50 members, who purchased 7 

 pairs of the English ring-necked varieties 

 which were put out in this immediate vicin- 

 ity, great care being taken to place them 

 close to the creeks and feeding grounds, 

 and the pledge of nearby farmers to look 

 after and protect them was easily secured. 

 Most of them have been seen and so far as 

 heard from have hatched out from 10 to 20 

 young from each pair, which are now full 

 grown, matured birds and strong flyers. 

 The club has purchased 10 pairs more of 

 young birds which will be set out the com- 

 ing spring. Without the aid of any State 

 funds the club has made a beginning that 

 shows that these birds can be successfully 

 raised in Wisconsin with proper protection. 

 A determined effort is being made to have 

 the game laws properly enforced. The offi- 

 cers of the club are J. A. Wells, President; 

 G. A. Altenberg, Vice-President; C. J. 

 Wells, Secretary; L. W. Earle, Treasurer. 

 James A. Wells, Tomah, Wis. 



A PUGILISTIC MUSKRAT. 



I am the city newsdealer in Albert Lea; 

 the most beautiful and the metropolitan 

 city of Southern Minnesota. Recreation 

 is always found on my counters and is a 

 great favorite with lovers of nature and 

 field sports. 



On my way home from the store one 

 moonlight night not long ago, my atten- 

 tion was attracted by a small animal cross- 

 ing the street just ahead of me. This was 

 in the business part of the city, and I thought 

 at first it was a gray rat, but soon discovered 

 it was much larger. My next thought on 

 getting a closer view, was woodchuck. He 

 was coming right along all the time, appar- 

 ently going to cross the walk ahead of me. 

 Soon he jumped upon the walk, and stopped 

 in front of and facing me. I now saw it was 

 a large muskrat, and his attitude appeared 

 much like a challenge. Of course I could 

 not take that and began hostilities at once. 



I ran straight at him and kicked with all 

 my strength, striking him squarely, and lift- 

 ing him about 30 feet. He lay stunned for a 

 moment, but soon struggled to his feet. 

 Much to my surprise he came back again, 

 and on my starting in his direction ran 

 straight toward me. I began kicking again 

 but found he was still very much alive. 



He jumped and dodged so rapidly it was 

 impossible for me to land on him again. 

 Although fairly nimble on foot I could not 

 keep track of him, and he finally got hold 

 of my leg, setting his teeth into it a great 



