GAME AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE. 13 



of which may be estimated at from $150,000 to $250,000. Michigan 

 places the annual food value of its game animals, birds, and fish at 

 15500,000 and the value of the insectivorous birds at $10,000,000. 

 New York has estimated the value of game captured in 1918 at 

 $3,239,277, representing a total value of $53,000,000. Oregon, in 

 1914, estimated the value of its game at $5,000,000. Vermont values 

 its fish and game at $500,000 per annum, "equivalent to a dividend 

 at the rate of 4 per cent on $12,500,000. 5 ' 



The following extracts from the reports of these States show the 

 manner in which the estimates were made : 



Idaho. — The fish and game warden of Idaho stated in his report 

 for 1913-14 (pp. 8-9) as follows: 



Our fish and game have a large food value. During 1914 there were killed 

 approximately 5,000 deer and the value of the meat is at least 20 cents per 

 pound, whether eaten in camp or on our tables. These deer are worth $20 

 each. Two hundred and fifty elk were killed, worth at least $80 each. One 

 hundred mountain sheep and goats were killed, worth $10 each. The above 

 figures are food values only ; the hides and heads mounted as trophies have a 

 value of many thousands of dollars. * * * 



When we consider the food value of the fish and game taken from the whole 

 State and in addition the value of the hides and heads of our large game 

 animals, and the number of fur-bearing animals that are taken, a low estimate 

 of these resources is $1,000,000 per year. The value to health and happiness 

 from a recreation standpoint is incalculable. 



Louisiana. — The Conservation Commission of Louisiana in the 

 report for 1912-1914 included a statistical report (p. 60) of Inspector 

 L. Alberti, showing the combined amount of game received in the 

 markets and taken by sportsmen during the preceding hunting 

 season, based on actual inspection and on market receipts, with an 

 estimated addition for the game killed by sportsmen. The report 

 is for the season 1913-14, from October to February, on mallards, 

 pintails, wood ducks, ringnecks, gray ducks, canvasbacks, redheads, 

 spoonbills, teal, dos gris or bluebills, poule d'eau, snipe, and geese, 

 with a total estimate of 371,654. 



Michigan. — The Michigan State game, fish, and forestry warden 

 estimated in his report for 1913-14 (p. 6) that the annual food value 

 of the game animals, birds, and fishes taken in the State was $500,000, 

 and the value to the farmer of insectivorous and seed-eating birds 

 was $10,000,000. 



New York. — New York has probably made the most comprehensive 

 estimate of the value of its game resources, based on returns for the 

 year 1918. 9 



In spite of the incompleteness of the returns, it is significant that the total 

 amount of game taken by 208,946 licensed hunters was 1,526,960, which was 

 an average of more than 7 animals or birds for each hunter. When it is con- 



» Carpenter, W. S., New York's annual game dividend : The Consei'vationist, Albany, 

 N. Y., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 19-22, February, 1921. 



