GAME AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE. 47 



the State, and a large area in another parish has been placed at the 

 disposal of the conservation commission for experiments in game 

 protection, including the introduction of elk. 



The expense of inclosing a preserve is shown by reports 18 regard- 

 ing the Custer County refuge, South Dakota, comprising 61,440 acres 

 and inclosed by a fence of woven and barbed wire 40 miles long 

 and 8 feet high. The construction of this fence was begun in July, 

 1913, and completed in November, 1914, and cost $12,261.05. In the 

 autumn of 1914, 36 head of buffalo were purchased from the Philip 

 herd, Pierre, S. Dak., including 6 bulls, 18 cows, and 12 calves. Early 

 in 1915, 50 elk were obtained from the Yellowstone Park; in 1916, 25 ; 

 and in 1917, 50 more, making a total of 125 thus obtained. In June. 

 1921, the total number of buffalo was reported as about 70 and the 

 number of elk about 500. A considerable number of deer are in the 

 inclosure and the preserve has also been stocked with pheasants. 



COST OF GAME FARMS. 



The cost of maintenance of game farms may be illustrated by the 

 costs of those operated by Illinois, Oregon, and New York. 



The Illinois farm, now abandoned, formerly embraced about 534 

 acres near Auburn, a few miles south of Springfield, and was held 

 under eight leases. The total expense for maintenance during the 

 year ended June 30, 1912, was $67,142. This total covered the fol- 

 lowing items: Expenses of the commissioner and purchase of food 

 supplies, $20,665; purchase of game birds, $18,267; labor, $21,662; 

 leases, freight, and express charges, $6,548. The purchase of game 

 birds included $2,500 for 1,000 ring-neck pheasant hens, at $2.50 

 each; and $3,915 for 783 pairs of Hungarian partridges, at $5 per 

 pair. About 15,000 birds vwere distributed during the year. 



In 1914. the Oregon Fish and Game Commission expended $12,- 

 891.16 on the State game farm. Of this sum $3,888.42 were spent 

 for salaries and labor, $4,385 for supplies, $738.66 for improvements, 

 and $3,879.08 for game. During the year, 5,686 pheasants, Hun- 

 garian partridges, and quail were distributed. 



The cost of maintaining the three game farms operated by the 

 Conservation Commission of New York during the year ended 

 June 30, 1919, was $32,076.14. Of this amount $13,365.18 were ex- 

 pended for labor, and $18,710.96 for miscellaneous expenses of 

 maintenance and operation. The number of half-grown birds dis- 

 tributed was 9,206 and the number of eggs 55,400. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING A SURVEY OF GAME RESOURCES. 



The information necessary for ascertaining the value of game 

 resources can only be obtained by the adoption of comprehensive 

 plans for collecting it on a broad and practical basis. In the fore- 



i* Rept. Dept. Game and Fish, S. Dak., 1914, p. 12 ; 1915, p. 7 ; 1916, p. 19. 



