450 



RECREATION. 



on the Yellowstone National Park, in which the 

 writer, who had lately visited the Park, holds 

 that the geysers are rapidly approaching ex- 

 tinction. The article has been widely copied 

 throughout the United States, and has gone a 

 long way toward creating an impression that the 

 Yellowstone wonderland, so far as relates to the 

 hot springs and geysers, is practically a thing of 

 the past. 



Both in his premises and conclusions the au- 

 thor of this article is wholly astray, and it is a 

 good example of how even a scientific observer 

 may draw wrong conclusions if he fails to ex- 

 amine all sides of a question. A few examples 

 will illustrate. 



Roaring mountain, which the author of the 

 Ciel et Terre article did not hear roar, never has 

 roared to any noticeable extent. Some enthu- 

 siastic explorer in past years happened by this 

 hill when there was an excessive escape of 

 steam, heard the loud, shrill sound which it 

 caused, and dignified the hill with the name 

 of Roaring Mountain. But it is doubtful if any 

 one has ever heard it roar any more than it does 

 now; certainly it is as active as it has been for 15 

 or 20 years past. 



The Growler is another example in which the 

 author's conclusions are exactly the opposite 

 of the facts. This steam vent has quadrupled in 

 power in the lest io years. A close observer 

 would have seen this if he had taken note of the 

 great destruction which is going on in the sur- 

 rounding trees. There are several acres of 

 ground around this spring on which the trees 

 have been killed during the last 6 years. Ob- 

 viously its force and volume have greatly in- 

 creased, or its destructive influence would not be 

 so much extended. 



A little inquiry would further have shown this 

 investigator that close by the Growler the govern- 

 ment has in recent years been compelled to 

 change its road because of the outbreak of new 

 springs and geysers of great energy and power. 

 In fact, this entire basin, called the Norris Gey- 

 ser basin, is steadily increasing in activity. 



The old Fountain geyser, in the Lower Fire- 

 hole basin, has indeed become extinct, but its 

 energy has been transferred to another near, 

 which appeared simultaneously with the disap- 

 pearance of the old. 



The Great Fountain geyser displays the same 

 activity that it did when described by Folsom in 

 1869. Excelsior geyser has erupted but 2 or 3 

 times since the discovery of this region. It is the 

 most powerful geyser in the Park, and during its 

 last eruption it burst through the rim which sep- 

 arates it from Firehole river. This let the water 

 in the pool escape and lowered its level several 

 feet. The relief of pressure thus brought about, 

 very likely accounts for its failure to erupt in 

 recent years, but its volume of discharge is as 

 great as it ever was. , 



Old Faithful shows no perceptible change in 

 regularity or height of eruption. The Bee Hive 

 is less frequent in eruption than it used to be, 

 but others in the neighborhood are more active. 



Geyser action on the shore of the Yellowstone 

 lake is more vigorous than it was 10 years ago. 

 Mud geyser in the last few years has shown 

 more violence and power than before. The 

 springs on Sulphur mountain appear exactly as 

 they did 10 years ago. The various features 

 throughout the Park known as "Paint Pots" show 

 no perceptible change. 



The Mammoth Hot springs show more change 

 than any other feature; but this is due to mi- 

 gration rather than extinction. While the springs 

 on one side are dying out, those on the other are 

 increasing, and it is difficult to say on which side 

 the balance lies. 



To those long acquainted with the Pnrk the 

 changes do not appear extensive. The total sum 

 of thermal energy displayed seems about the 

 same as it was 25 years ago. Springs die out and 

 others take their places, and there is a constant 

 change of this sort going on. If an observer 



wishes to make out a case on ex parte testimony 

 that the geysers are becoming extinct, he can 

 easily do so. With equal ease can he make out 

 exactly the opposite case. 



It is entirely probable that the broad opera- 

 tion of general causes is on the side of ultimate 

 extinction of all thermal activity in this region. 

 The evolution of the earth is in that direction. 

 But the process is a slow one, and the tourist in 

 the year 2000 will find things in this region 

 much as we find them to-day. Apart from 

 the geysers and hot springs the other scenic at- 

 tractions remain the same, but are more accessible 

 than ever before, while the function of the Park 

 as a game preserve is yearly increasing in im- 

 portance. 



A POOR SHOT THAT SCORED. 



We left Bfoston Tuesday afternoon on 

 the steamer "Boston," of the Yarmouth 

 line, and were glad to escape the covert 

 jeers of those friends to whom we had 

 confided our intention of returning with a 

 moose. Their jibes grated on our ears, for 

 we were off to Nova Scotia, and a moose 

 we were going to have if there was one 

 there. We landed in Yarmouth the next 

 morning about sunrise. A ride of a few 

 hours by rail took us to our destination, 

 Indian Gardens, on the Liverpool river. 

 There we found our camp and the best 

 guides in the Province. Soon Sam Free- 

 man and Bordie Hunt had supper ready, 

 and Tom Hunt and his brother Lem had 

 our beds fixed. 



Scarcely had we fallen asleep when we 

 heard our Indian guide trying his new 

 birch bark moose call to see if it would 

 work and if there were any moose around. 

 I rushed from the tent, and far in the dis- 

 tance heard a muffled answer. It gradually 

 drew nearer and louder. Then all was still. 

 The Indian beckoned to me, and taking mv 

 rifle, I followed him as silently as I could. 

 We crept to the shore of the lake, got into 

 a canoe, and the Indian paddled around 

 until we were in the deep shade of trees 

 overhanging the water. Then we waited. 

 Occasionally the Indian used his call and 

 gave a low, muffled roar and grunt that 

 woke echo after echo from the farther 

 shore. 



I watched the Indian's face by the 

 moonlight. Once more he called. Quickly 

 came the answer. The moose was coming 

 down to the opposite shore of the little 

 bay. We could hear the twigs break as he 

 plunged along. The guide swung the canoe 

 quietly around. With a rush and a grunt 

 out came a large bull moose, his huge form 

 outlined against the dark trees behind him. 

 The guide made signs to me to fire. Should 

 I? Could I? Why is it I could not get the 

 rifle to my shoulder? The guide saw me 

 tremble and hesitate. He reached for my 

 rifle with the only determined look I ever 

 saw on his swarthy face and he muttered, 



"White man big fool. Go hunt moose, 

 then go get buck fever, then go lose him 



all," ' 



