i8o 



RECREATION 



grazing land almost entirely, and is the range 

 which the animals now occupy. I am very glad 

 to see the effort that is being made to protect 

 and preserve the herd as it now is, and hope the 

 people of the country will lend such support to 

 the measure as will cause the section to be set 

 apart. If I can be of any assistance, as I have 

 before intimated, I shall be very glad to render 

 the service. 



By the plan proposed, if it is considered that 

 twenty-five acres will keep an animal, as I be- 

 lieve it will, the proposed land will be sufficient 

 for a herd of more than two thousand animals. 



I am informed that at the present time there 

 is no herder with the animals, as has usually been 

 the case. We could not get close enough to them 

 to take pictures large size, as they invariably de- 

 camped when we came within two or three hundred 

 feet of them. 



While I have no figures that are reliable, I can 

 not see that within the past few years, or since 

 I visited them last, the herd has diminished in 

 numbers more than the increase. This is said to be 

 from sixty to seventy-five per year 



I trust the map and suggestions may be helpful, 

 and wish you and the committee success in their 

 work. 



M. J. Elrod, University of Montana. 



P. S. — I propose any of the following limits 

 to the reservation: 



Beginning at the north bank at the mouth of 

 the Little Bitter-Root River, thence eastward on 

 a straight line a distance of six miles; thence due 

 north a distance of twelve miles; thence west a 

 distance of eight miles; thence south a distance 

 of twelve miles; thence east to place of beginning; 

 a total of ninety-six square miles; or, 



Beginning with the south bank of Crow Creek, 

 where it enters the Pend d'Oreille River thence 

 east a distance of four miles; thence north fourteen 

 miles; thence west eight miles; thence south four- 

 teen miles; thence east to place of beginning; a 

 total of one hundred and twelve square miles; or, 



It may be shortened at either end. 



We have also heard from Mr. Howard 

 Eaton on this subject. His letter is as fol- 

 lows : 



Mr. Dan Beard, New York. 



D. D. B. (which is Dear Dan Beard) : — Your 

 favor 23d inst. just received. In regard to the land 

 required to support these buffalos, if herd is not 

 divided, I'd advise strip of land running east side 

 Pend d'Oreille River, say five miles wide and about 

 five or six in length, from ferry road below falls 

 to Crow Creek. On west side river about same 

 sized strip from ferry down to Little Blackfoot. 

 In round figures about sixty miles. 



This would make a fine reservation — all of the 

 eastern part except a strip of land along river, and 

 a little land on Crow Creek is unwatered and so 

 high above river that irrigation is out of the ques- 

 toin. ,.'.,, 



On the west side there is some flat and irrigable 

 land, but the foot hills and timber come close to 

 river and very little is farming land. 



The buffaloes range on east side in summer and 

 west side in winter. This is a fine range for the 

 buffaloes — high plateaus for summer and sheltered 

 valleys for winter. When this land is fenced and 

 the horses and cattle kept off, the grass will have a 

 new lease on life and will support the increase 

 for many years. In regard to the division of herd, 

 would advise Crow Reservation for one bunch and 

 Standing Rock and Blackfoot Reserves rather than 

 McDonald Lake Reserves. 



A fund should be made to pay expenses for ex- 

 changing bulls with different parties, so as to fur- 

 nish new blood. James Philip (Scotty) near tort 

 Pierre; John E. Dooty, of Salt Lake City, and 

 several' others have bulls to exchange. Goodnight 

 has bulls from this herd that I sold him. 



Hope you told Elrod to keep it dark, as Pablo 

 is apt to stand pat on the $260 if he hears that there 

 is a movement like this on hand. 



Hon. Joseph Dixon, of Missoula, is one of Mon- 

 tana's representatives, and I believe is O. K. It 

 was mainly through him that reservation has been, 

 or rather will shortly be, thrown open. 



The Millers of 101 Ranch are good fellows, and 

 the ad. they got from the killing of one old bull 

 would have cost a hatful of money if paid for. 



I was about to run out to see Pablo, and try 

 for a lower option, but as it is 500 miles from 

 here, and he is pretty sure to have heard of it 

 through Elrod, I hesitate, because my expenses 

 would be over $50 for no good. I should have 

 bound him for lower price before a word was said 

 to the public about Fort Aid; however, you can 

 count on me for all I'm able to do, and I will 

 try to get the Wyoming senators and Congressman 

 Mondell, also North Dakota people and John Dalzell, 

 of Philadelphia, to lend a hand. 



Had I the money and time, I'd devote all my 

 labor to help you pass this bill, but, as you know, 

 I'm on the bread and butter wagon, and must keep 

 that going. 



Keep me posted, and remember that I'll gladly 

 do all in my power, but my bank account is not 

 John D. Rock's. 



Howard Eaton. 



GAME IN WASHINGTON STATE. 



Editor Recreation : 



I have a negative of a rattlesnake that had 

 eight fangs, four on each side. Arch Moore 

 and I caught it on one of our trips on the 

 mountain. After teasing and photographing 

 it we killed it. Before skinning it we took 

 out the fangs and were surprised to find one 

 under the mature fang; took it out, then an- 

 other and still another, until we got out four 

 from each side. The bottom one was not 

 hard, more like gristle. If any one has been 

 able to get more fangs out of one snake I 

 have not heard of it. It is a little early for 

 good fishing in the creek, but a man who 

 does not want to fill his basket and has pa- 

 tience could have a very enjoyable day. 



Goat are fairly plentiful. The passengers 

 on the boat lately have had the pleasure of 

 seeing a bunch of twelve or more on the 

 mountain side a short distance below my 

 cabin. 



As for bear, I have not had time this 

 spring to go after them. I guess there are 

 a few left yet. Did I tell you that Arch and 

 I drove one through the hotel yard one day 

 last summer? It was swimming across the 

 lake ; we headed it off, and got it headed for 

 the house ; it landed near the stock. I made 

 an exposure when it was out in the lake 

 and tried to get one when it came ashore, 

 but it was too swift for me. 



With best wishes, 



Jos. W. Nicol, Moore, Wash. 



If the partridge had but the woodcock's 



thigh, 

 'Twould be the best bird that ever did fly. 

 If the woodcock had but the partridge's 



breast 

 'Twould be the best bird that ever was 



dressed. 



